The Joint IED Defeat Organisation (JIEDDO) is funding more than $19 million to speed the procurement of pelvic protection to troops in Afghanistan to reduce the effects of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on dismounted troops.

JIEDDO will deliver nearly 2,50,000 pelvic protection units within 45 days to the Afghanistan theatre in support of US Central Command requirements. JIEDDO’s pelvic protection initiative will provide an interim solution, protecting troops from injuries to the groin area, while the Army continues to test other alternatives.

Dismounted troops in Afghanistan represent a vulnerable target with limited protection from IED attacks. The increase in dismount operations in Afghanistan led to an increased in blunt trauma pelvic injuries, causing the pelvis’ middle to fracture.

This life-threatening injury, caused by propelled fragments at high velocity, leads to internal bleeding and is challenging to treat. Carrying a high immediate mortality of approximately 10 per cent, rising to more than 40 per cent, these fragments can cause severe damage upon penetration. The pelvic protection JIEDDO funding will protect warfighters from trauma related to post blast complications.

JIEDDO’s two-tiered pelvic protection initiative consists of special protective underwear that slows the penetration of sand, grit and dirt from IEDs into vital tissues and detachable ballistic groin protection designed to protect colon arteries and the groin. The Army and Marine Corps will receive 1,65,000 anti-microbial briefs units and 45,000 ballistic protective overgarment units.

“JIEDDO’s rapid acquisition capability allows quick reaction to enemy tactics and procedures and to mitigate risk to the warfighter,” said Programme Integrator, Matthew May.

Measuring success by the capabilities they can deliver to the warfighter, JIEDDO’s unique rapid development process takes a third of the time when compared to the defence procurement process. JIEDDO is in the unique position of receiving urgent needs from theatre and applying funding within days or weeks to start or accelerate a solution.

Although JIEDDO takes risk with developmental concepts and controls to speed delivery of counter-IED capability to the warfighter, programme integrator May acknowledges the cost considerations.

“While JIEDDO is focused on schedule and how quickly we can deliver a capability, the cost for getting to the end point has to be considered, especially in today’s fiscal environment,” he said. “Although there are efforts in complex technologies at JIEDDO, in rapid acquisition, the simple-and-cheap solution is often the most effective.”

Rapid acquisition provides flexibility, a requirement from theatre often submitted based on quick assessments. As solutions for requirements are developed, changes happen. The ability to react to changes while continuing to develop a technology simultaneously ensuring rapid delivery to the warfighter is one of JIEDDO’s advantages. JIEDDO’s efforts also include the side benefit of providing feedback on cutting-edge technology today that can be leveraged to support decision in long-term traditional acquisition programmes.