Polish Equipment Issues and Consequences

Polish officer at Bagram
memorial, Afghanistan

In August 2009, Polish Land Forces Commander Lt. Gen Waldemar Skrzypczak dropped a different kind of bomb by resigning, after accusing defense bureaucrats in Warsaw of “serious incompetence” that was partly responsible for the deaths of Polish soldiers. As one might predict, those comments touched off promises of major equipment purchases, along with a political firestorm.

The end of a senior officer’s career is no small sacrifice. If done voluntarily, it must be done with and for honor. Ideally, it should also end up spurring necessary changes. So, what has happened since?

Too Thor to Go Off: The FY 2012 EOD Jammer Buy

AN/PLT-5

At the end of August 2012, Sierra Nevada Corp. in Sparks, NV received a $65.8 million contract modification for AN/PLT-5 jamming transmitters, to support the US military’s explosive ordnance (EOD) disposal teams under the EOD Counter Radio Controlled Improvised Explosive Device Electronic Warfare (CREW) program. Most of this contract will supply the US Army (92.3%), though some will go to the Navy (7.1%), and Marines (0.6%). The US Naval Surface Warfare Center’s Indian Head Division in Indian Head, MD manages the contract (N00174-09-D-0003).

Discussions with SNC pinpointed the jammers’ type and fit. SNC’s AN/PLT-5 (Thor II) is a small and relatively light weight electronic countermeasure system against remotely triggered mines. It fits to vehicles, and is based on SNC’s successful baseline Thor technology. The Navy’s NAVEODTECHDIV buys the gear and manages the program for all EOD forces in the US military. Thor II is not considered one of the JCREW jamming systems, which are managed by the Navy’s PMS-408. Do not confuse it with the AN/PLQ-9 (Thor III) JCREW 3.1 system for dismounted infantry.

Rapid Fire Oct. 2, 2012: Warned Not to WARN

• Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems announced they would not send WARN Act letters in 2012 in advance of sequestration, in the wake of OMB guidance published last Friday. from LockMart’s statement: