September 26, 2006:
The U.S. is buying 3,874 CREW (Counter Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device Electronic Warfare) systems. Cost is about $21,000 each. What's special about this batch of jammers is that they are portable, and can be carried by infantry patrolling on foot. Deliveries will continue through the end of 2008. These jammers are to disable IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) that are increasingly being used against foot patrols in Iraq and Afghanistan. CREW will jam cell phones, as well as a number of other wireless devices used for IEDs.