Defence

Pearson Engineering Counter-IED rollers head for Afghanistan

Posted 24 April 2017

Pearson Engineering has secured its position as market leaders in the supply of Counter-IED rollers following contract award by the US Army Contracting Command.

Above: Pearson Engineering rollers fitted to HMMWV 2 under previous contract.

The Counter-IED roller systems are being acquired as part of a US Foreign Military Sales contract for Afghanistan. The award was announced on 24th February 2017 following competition.

The contract, worth nearly $8,000,000 will see Pearson Engineering provide a large number of rollers in a similar configuration as previously supplied for US Army use in Iraq and Afghanistan during recent campaigns. Named SPARK OIF(R), it is part of the SPARK roller family fielded during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom and was specifically designed for the terrain and threat. The system is designed to protect MRAP vehicles from the effects of Victim Operated IEDs over the track width of the vehicle and will support the mobility of the HMMVW fleet in Afghanistan.

Pearson Engineering is able to meet ongoing demands for its rollers thanks to its ability to rapidly mobilise to meet high rate production requirements. The company's in house manufacturing capability will be supported a U.S supply chain which includes manufacturing services in Baraga, Michigan and at the company's facility in Newnan, Georgia.

Technical Director, Randall Flack said: "We are delighted to have been awarded this contract to support U.S Army capacity building in Afghanistan. Despite competition from very capable companies in the U.S, we have proven that Pearson Engineering are world-experts at providing these solutions and responding to the delivery needs of our customers. Our staff worked very hard to make this opportunity a success which is testament to the engineering prowess and dedication that can be found within the company."

Projects Director, Simon Gilroy said: "We are looking forward to scaling up our operation to deliver against this contract. Our project teams retain very close ties with the US following years of providing breaching, manoeuvre support and counter-IED capability. This contract represents a natural extension of the hard work we have already put in to support the U.S Army and we look forward to developing our relationship."