Australian Military to get 850 Northrop Counter-IED Equipment

The United States approved the sale of 850 Joint Counter Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device Electronic Warfare Increment 1 Block 1 (JCREW I1B1) Systems and related equipment worth $245 million to Australia, on Wednesday.

“The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Australia of up to eight hundred fifty (850) Joint Counter Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device Electronic Warfare Increment 1 Block 1 (JCREW I1B1) Systems and related equipment for an estimated cost of $245 million,” Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said in a statement.

The Government of Australia has requested to buy up to eight hundred fifty (850) Joint Counter Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device Electronic Warfare Increment 1 Block 1 (JCREW I1B1) Systems (533 vehicle mounted and 317 dismounted); spare and repair parts; support and test equipment; technical exchanges, publications and technical documentation; support equipment; engineering change proposals; classified software/loadsets; training; US Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics support.

The proposed sale will provide Australia increased force protection from Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device threats for its defense forces and vehicles.  Australia is interested in procuring the dismounted and mounted variants that have a modular, open architecture and are upgradeable in order to maintain capability against evolving global threats. 

The principal contractor will be Northrop Grumman Corporation, San Diego, California.  There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.