Navy orders backpack electronic warfare jammers to counter IEDs

U.S. military explosives-disposal experts are ordering additional electronic warfare (EW) jammers for deployed infantry warfighters to counter improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in dangerous parts of the world. Officials of the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) in Indian Head, Md., have announced a $29.5 million contract modification to Sierra Nevada Corp. in Sparks, Nev., for an undetermined number of the AN/PLT-5 IED electronic jammer to support explosive ordnance-disposal personnel. The order from the NSWC Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology Division is a modification to an original $14.1 million contract awarded to Sierra Nevada in 2009 for AN/PLT-5 IED jammers. This contract modification is to extend the ordering period and exercise option year five for the procurement and support of the transmitting set. The AN/PLT-5 is a man-portable system designed to assist experts from the U.S. Joint Service Explosive Ordnance Disposal (JSEOD) Counter Radio Controlled Improvised Explosive Device Electronic Warfare (CREW) program.