Navy orders EW jammers to foil IEDs

U.S. military explosives-disposal experts are ordering electronic warfare (EW) jammers for deployed infantry warfighters to counter improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Officials of the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Indian Head, Md., placed a $31 million order to Sierra Nevada Corp. in Sparks, Nev., for the AN/PLT-5 IED electronic jammer to support explosive ordnance- disposal personnel. The Sierra Nevada AN/PLT-5 THOR II is a man-packable jammer designed to counter radio-controlled IEDs to protect EOD technicians from IEDs and other deliberate explosive devices by preventing their initiation, while working in close proximity to suspect devices.