IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICES (IED) NEUTRALIZATION AND DETECTION (INDET)

Ocean Systems Engineering Corporation (OSEC) proposes to develop Improvised Explosive Device (IED) Neutralization and Detection (INDET) for ground forces protection against remotely controlled improvised explosive devices (IED) and related insurgent/terrorist explosive threats. IED's have become an extremely significant and dangerous force protection issue in the wake of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and the Global War on Terror (GWOT). Insurgents and terrorists are using a variety of asymmetric techniques to attack militarily superior coalition forces with military ordnance components combined with commercial off the shelf explosives, electronics, and digital subsystems. OSEC proposes the INDET SBIR to integrate and package existing technologies for use in military vehicles to protect US/Coalition forces. (1) INDET will provide early warning of the possible presence of IEDs by using IR (Infrared) laser technologies to seek out explosives (2) INDET will neutralize (detonate) remotely controlled IEDs by replicating the coded radio frequency transmissions from garage door openers, car alarms, etc. that the adversary uses to control the IEDs, exploding the devices before the arrival of their intended target. (3) INDET will neutralize (detonate or dud) IEDs through the use of tailored high power electromagnetic (EM) energy directed at the IED . (4) INDET will prevent the hostile remote triggering of remotely controlled IEDs through the use of tailored barrage jamming. In order to support rapid development and fielding at reduced cost, INDET will leverage existing electronic warfare components that were developed and operationally proven to be extremely effective in countering IEDs, but have not previously been integrated into ground based military vehicles. Such existing components will include both classified hardware and classified software algorithms designed specifically for electronic attack of IEDs. Also, INDET will leverage existing technologies for detection of organic molecules in miniscule concentrations (see references 6 through 9). The initial planning for the integration, adaptation and packaging of these technologies will be conducted for use in military vehicles. INDET will measurably improve own force protection, providing a cost effective organic escort capability independent of supporting theater and national assets. Our unique understanding of IR Spectroscopy, EM transmission systems, capabilities, EAJ techniques, intelligence sources/methods and tactical integration provide OSEC the capability to develop INDET into the vital force protection capability needed on today's multi-faceted battlefield.