Backpack jammers help Marines counter roadside bombs, disrupt enemy communications

Sierra Nevada Corp. in Sparks, Nev., won a $73.2 million U.S. Marine Corps contract to provide Marine Expeditionary Units with the Sierra Nevada Modi II backpack electronic warfare (EW) system to defeat improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and disrupt enemy communications on the battlefield.

The order is for 581 systems, including spares and training. Sierra Nevada's EW products are fielded to protect U.S. and allied forces against radio-controlled improvised explosive devices (RCIEDs). The Modi II represents an evolution of the company's Thor II/AN PLT-5 and Thor III AN/PLQ-9.

The AN/PLT-5 man-packable ECM system, known as Thor II, was developed for joint Explosive Ordnance Disposal forces and AN/PLQ-9 was developed for joint conventional forces.

Sierra Nevada's software-definable EW systems are configured for backpack, vehicular, fixed-site, and airborne applications. The Modi II system is a potential multifunction, networked, military system of systems architecture.

FOR MORE INFORMATION visit Sierra Nevada online at www.sncorp.com.