Allen-Vanguard providing counter-IED equipment to Somalia

MILITARY AFRICa|MOGADISHU: Allen-Vanguard will deliver electronic countermeasure (ECM) equipment to Somalia in a multimillion Canadian dollar deal, the company announced on 21 September.

The electronic countermeasures company received USD5 million Canadian dollar funding from an undisclosed customer to provide more electronic countermeasures (ECM) equipment to protect those at risk working in Somalia.

Allen-Vanguard’s 3XXX ECM suite of systems (3140, 3230, & 3330) a static and vehicle mounted counter-radio controlled improvised explosive device capability will be delivered to Somalia.

The family of systems protects militaries from radio controlled improvised explosive devices (RCIEDs) and can be mounted on most vehicle platforms or deployed in a static-point protection role, the company said.

The company is also delivering its Scorpion manportable ECM solution, which protects personnel from RCIEDs and unmanned aircraft systems (UASs), as well as its Ancile counter-UAS (C-UAS).

Allen-Vanguard will also provide the SCORPION manpack ECM system and the ANCILE counter-drone system, which jams UAV command and control links.

The CAD$5 miilion funding will provide the essential back-up and support from the Allen-Vanguard in-theatre team to maintain maximum protection from new threats, ensure operational effectiveness and enhance equipment availability, as well as the neccessary hardware and software.

For a long while, Allen-Vanguard has been supplying ECM solutions to security forces in Somalia and to other international organisations operating in the region. The company has a permanent Field Support Representative team in the region.

In May, there was a high-profile visits to the Allen-Vanguard team – based in Mogadishu – to better understand what protection the company’s systems can provide against the threat from RCIEDs and UASs. Allen-Vanguard is the prime contractor with SKK International and Artios Global delivering the logistics and training aspects of the explosive threat reduction training team (ETRT) courses to the Somali National Army and the Somali Police Force. The company delivered two explosive threat reduction training team (ETRT) courses to the Somalian National Security Forces.

Allen-Vanguard’s Business Director for Africa, Stuart Wilson, stated that “the increase in demand for high-quality ECM equipment across the African continent is reflective of the continuing insurgencies and unrest in the region. Having supported the UN, various Contributing Nations and African Union members for over a decade, Allen-Vanguard continues to grow our footprint and have now established a permanent Field Support Representative (FSR) team in the region.”