Website: http://www.cerdec.army.mil/inside_cerdec/
Location: Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, USA
The US Army Communications Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center (CERDEC) is an integrated US military research center dedicated to developing “Soldier capabilities that enable situational awareness and understanding, establish and secure communications, and protect Soldiers from surprise attack.” It works with the Defense Department and national research organisations to influence research and adopt useful technologies. CERDEC employs more than 3,000 people, and is divided into six different directorates.
Although CERDEC works in a very broad variety of fields, one of its many interests is C-IED technology, as described here. It works to develop technologies to detect and disable ‘explosive hazards that include IEDs and mines’ deployed under all circumstances and with various types of trigger mechanisms. According to its website, it:
- “Has unique IED, Mine and Minefield Detection and Defeat core competencies
- Directly supports the Army and Defense Department strategy of countering mines, IEDs and other explosive threats while maintaining manoeuvrability
- Superior explosive-hazard detection and neutralisation technologies
- Has an inclusive government approach that integrates federal, state, local, tribal, territorial, private sector and global participation in C-IED activities
- Also applies these technologies to humanitarian organisations.”
Intelligence and Information Warfare Directorate (I2WD)
CERDEC’s Intelligence and Information Warfare Directorate (I2WD) has been developing C-IED technology since the roadside bomb was recognised by the US army as a serious emerging threat to soldiers. Among other technologies, the I2W directorate developed the CREW Duke V3 system, a jamming system which was honoured as one of the Army’s Greatest Inventions for 2009.
Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate (NVESD)
CERDEC’s Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate develops sensors and detection systems for the military. They make use of sensor and sensor suit technologies to detect, clear and mark explosive hazards. They have also developed various handheld, vehicle-mounted and airborne detection and neutralisation technologies for countermine and C-IED technologies.
This profile is part of AOAV’s investigation into counter-IED (C-IED) actors around the globe. To see the list of all C-IED actors recorded by AOAV, see here. To see those engaged in the Middle East, the Sahel, North Africa or other highly impacted countries please see here, here, here, and here respectively. This research was made possible by funding from the NATO Counter Improvised Explosive Devices Centre of Excellence (C-IED COE). To read the full report, ‘Addressing the threat posed by IEDs: National, Regional and Global Initiatives’, see here.
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