QinetiQ’s Q-Net: Fabric Beats Rocket

M-ATV w. Q-Net

No vehicle “cage armor” provides 100% protection, but even 50% effectiveness will save lives. QinetiQ’s Q-Net uses high-tech fabrics to replace metal cage armor, and protect against incoming rockets. In May 2012, QinetiQ North America in Watham, MA received an $11.7 million firm-fixed-price contract for 420 “rocket-propelled grenade defeating nets,” 420 battle damage Q-net kits, and proprietary tubes. Work will be performed in Franklin, MA, with an estimated completion date of Dec 13/12. One bid was solicited, with 1 bid received by the U.S. Army Contracting Command in Warren, MI (W56HAV-12-C-0240).

This isn’t the USA’s first Q-Net purchase. Kits have been created and fielded for HMMWVs, and for blast-resistant RG-31s and M-ATVs, but contracts to date had been handed out through the vehicle manufacturers. That isn’t entirely unreasonable, since any cage armor must be produced as a specific kit that protects a given vehicle type. As for Q-Net…

Rapid Fire May 30, 2012: Air Control Coordination

• Rafael is trying to increase the range of its Iron Dome rocket shields. The US plans to provide military aid to Israel to buy more of these counter-rocket systems, though so far numbers fluctuate widely between the Administration, the House and the Senate.

• House Armed Services Committee member Silvestre Reyes [D-TX-16] lost the Democratic primary after serving 8 terms. He’s currently the Ranking Member of two subcommittees: Readiness, and Air and Land Forces.

• Booz Allen Hamilton’s revenue for its FY 2012 grew by 4.8% to almost $5.9B. Their total backlog at the end of March was down $120M to $10.8B, though the funded part of the backlog gained ground to $2.9B vs. $2.4B a year earlier.