Army buys more bomb jammers

Army officials announced earlier this week that they awarded a $56.1 million contract to EDO Communications and Countermeasures to build 1,440 devices to detect roadside bombs in Iraq.

The deal calls for EDO to produce 720 Warlock Green and 720 Warlock Red electronic countermeasure devices. They will come in a kit that includes dual band antennas, according to a Jan. 18 Defense Department contracts' announcement.

Warlock Green emits a radio frequency to jam communication signals that detonate roadside bombs, often called improvised explosive devices (IEDs). EDO also manufactures a less sophisticated jammer called Warlock Red.

Iraqi insurgents use IEDs to attack U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq. They accounted for the most soldiers, 382 of 1,429, wounded in action in Iraq and Afghanistan from March to June of last year, according to the unclassified Army document, "Medical Update: Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom."

The deal marks the fourth contract that Army officials awarded to EDO for the jammers, which the company started delivering to U.S. and coalition forces in June. The contracts, including this week's, totaled $118.1 million and produced more than 2,172 devices, according to DOD contracts' statements.