Back in January I posted about the danger of improvised explosive devices in Iraq. I wondered why there wasn't some better way to jam them. I pointed out that an attempt to assasinate the President of Pakistan was thwarted by such a device.
I received quite a few helpful comments with some good information and just recently received news about a $6.8 million US Army contract to a company to build a jamming device. To get caught up on this thread the previous posts are here and here. Thanks to N Wood for the additional information on these jamming devices which are now called "Warlock Green" devices. Keep reading for the rest of the information,
"Here is an answer to the question, however, my question is, why has it taken so long to get these devices built and deployed. It seems to me that these things should have been standard equipment on Army vehicles for the past 3 years."
Army awards contract for IED jammer
BY Frank Tiboni
March 2, 2004
The Army awarded a $6.8 million contract to EDO Corp. yesterday to build a device that will help U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq detect roadside bombs.
EDO's Communications and Countermeasures division, located in Simi Valley, Calif., will build XXX Warlock Green electronic countermeasure devices. The contract is part of a $47.4 million contract initiated by the service in November, said a March 1 Defense Department contracts' announcement.
Warlock Green emits a radio frequency that jams communications signals that detonate roadside bombs, called improvised explosive devices. EDO also manufactures a less sophisticated jammer called Warlock Red, said a Dec. 29 company statement.
EDO will start delivering Warlock Green to U.S. and coalition troops in Iraq in June, according to an industry official familiar with the device's fielding. William Walkowiak, the company's investor relations director, and the Army declined comment.
Roadside bombs, the weapon of choice for Iraqi insurgents, have killed or wounded more than 300 soldiers since the United States invaded Iraq last year.
Thanks to N Wood for the additional information.
I am a troop in Iraq and my unit broke the Ant. cable for the Warlock Green. I need the NSN for a S2 Antenna. So I can order one to replace the broken on and a list of NSN for the Warlock Green if I need to replace any other parts (i.e ant., cables or just need to know info) someone please respone.
Posted by: Spc. Bell, Sherman at June 27, 2004 09:17 AMThis thread is unbelievable!!! I have worked very closely with this program since its inception and it has had an extremely high level of security assigned to it since "Day 1". Do you have any idea of the danger you could be imposing on our soldiers by openly discussing this system?? If the "bad guys" didn't know about this program before - they sure do now. I'm glad to see that the safety and protection of our Warfighters is top priority on everyone's mind. Nice going!!
Posted by: Bill at July 14, 2004 05:43 PMDear Bill,
If someone like me can find out this much about this program, then I seriously doubt the "bad guys" haven't already. Furthermore, I haven't revealed any technical details (since I don't know any) and everything here has first appeared somewhere else. As you probably know, the Israelis have done a lot of research on this topic in the past so it isn't exactly like we just came up with the idea.
Of course, if they thought they might be on to something, they'll really know it now that you've made your comments. Nice Going!
-jdm
There has to be something out there that works better. we need something that stops the bombs from blowing up when the convoy is XXXXXXXXXXXX (this comment was edited for security reasons. -jdm)
SSG Burns
Sgt Burns,
Thanks for leaving a comment. Since soldiers continue to be killed from IED's I have to assume that Warlock Green is less than perfect.
Thanks for serving your country.
I appreciate it.
-jim
I just returned from Iraq and was a Tanker driver-Warlock is awesome....
XXXXX the rest of this comment was removed for security considerations. - jdm