Northrop Grumman [NOC] yesterday said it received a $124 million follow-on award to provide personnel for expanded operations of Counter-Rocket, Artillery and Mortar (C-RAM) sense-and-warn systems in Afghanistan and Iraq.
C-RAM provides correlated air/ground pictures using existing Defense Department systems and selected commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware, linking them to the Army Battle Command System (ABCS) and Joint Defense Network (JDN), the 2011 Army Posture Statement said. The system provides situational awareness and exchange of timely and accurate information to synchronize and optimize automated Shape, Sense, Warn, Intercept, Respond and Protect decisions.
Northrop Grumman is working under a potential three-year contract, the base year plus two options years. The follow-on award consists of two parts: exercising the $76 million first-year option of the task order for Afghanistan operations that was first announced August 2010 and issued under the Encore II contract vehicle from the Defense Information Systems Agency at Scott AFB, Ill.; and $48 million for increased tasking in Afghanistan and to provide personnel for C-RAM sense-and-warn operations in Iraq.
Under the $68 million August 2010 award, Northrop Grumman provides training, certifying and readying for deployment civilian contractors to operate and support the C-RAM sense and warn system at Forward Operating Bases in Afghanistan.
Since its initial fielding more than six years ago, the C-RAM system is credited with saving hundreds of lives through its ability to provide early warning of incoming indirect fire, the company said in a statement. Working with the Army, Northrop Grumman helped to take the C-RAM capability from concept to reality in fewer than 18 months.
“C-RAM continues to demonstrate its value on the battlefield saving lives,” said Mike Twyman, vice president of integrated command, control, communications and intelligence systems for Northrop Grumman Information Systems. “We are proud to continue our collaboration with the Army to bring ever-evolving force protection capabilities to those in harm’s way.”
C-RAM C2 software correlates RAM sensor data, evaluates that threat, provides early warning, directs engagements, and cues counter fire systems and reaction forces, the posture statement said. The counterfire system could include the land-based Phalanx Weapon System, according to the Federation of American Scientists.
The Posture Statement said the system uses existing Field Artillery and Air Defense sensors–such as the Lighweight Counter Mortar Radar and Firefinder radar–a commercial industry-produced warning system, a Navy-developed interceptor, and Air Force Security Systems.