A San Diego Northrop Grumman Corp. unit will produce five prototype jamming systems for the Marines to counter the threat of roadside improvised explosive devices.
Under the $4.1 million contract, announced Tuesday, the systems, described as backpacks, will be produced for testing by the Marine Corps.
The Navy is also expected to acquire some of the systems, according to Northrop Grumman.
The project, if successful, could lead to $90 million worth of contracts over five years, according to the company.
The backpack electronic jamming systems will be designed to create a protective barrier around a Marine ground combat team and its equipment while minimizing disruption to friendly communications systems.
“Our troops face the IED threat around the world, and these Marine Expeditionary Units are the ones that go to the most dangerous places at a moment’s notice,” said Mike Twyman, sector vice president and general manager of the Defense Systems division of Northrop Grumman Information Systems.
“Northrop Grumman’s Freedom 240 dismounted system is lightweight, powerful and designed to keep up with these hard-fighting Marines,” he said.
The backpacks can be deployed worldwide with only some software adjustments, and an open architecture system will allow the Marines to add technologies from third parties, according to the defense contractor.
According to the company’s web site, Northrop Grumman’s San Diego operation employs 4,500 people in five main facilities. The company’s local projects include the F-22 Raptor, the Joint Strike Fighter CNI, Global Hawk, Navy BAMS UAS, Fire Scout, and Battlefield Airborne Communications Node.
– City News Service
