Innovative Concepts Inc. in McLean, VA, who was recently acquired by Herley Industries received an $8.5 million modification to a cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for Software Upgrade of the Improved Data Modem (IDM).
The IDM plays a key role in the U.S. Army’s “Digitization of the Battlefield” efforts. The IDM V304 IDM is the hardware system of choice to support all Army Aviation systems. It provides communications, routing and gateway functionality to support communications and data over the Combat Net Radio System, the U.S. Army’s Fire Support Net and the Tactical Internet. The latest versions allow communications support for both air and ground forces, and support Army, Marines, and Air Force operations.
The IDM V304 is deployed on all US Army helicopters to include: Apache AH-64D, Kiowa OH-58, Chinook CH-47 and Blackhawk UH-60. It is also a requirement for the new Army helicopter platforms, and is deployed on international Apache platforms around the world. This six-channel avionics system can support four HF radio channels, one HF or “Blue Force Tracking” system, EPLS (Enhanced Position Locating Systems), JVMF (Joint Variable Message Format) for the Army Battle Command System, and Mil Std 1553 and Ethernet computer interfaces to the mission computer.
Work on this contract will be performed in McLean, VA. This was a sole source contract initiated on March 1, 2004. The U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command in Redstone Arsenal, AL issued the contract (W58RGZ-04-C-0171).