Alion Science and Technology announced receipt of a U.S. military task order to provide technology expertise to help defeat improvised explosive devices.

The task order supporting the U.S. Department of Defense is worth $17.7 million. Its performance period, however, was not disclosed.

Alion said it will support conception, prototyping, improving and experimenting with technologies, devices and systems to develop new capabilities for countering IEDs and that its work will include improvement of situational awareness to enable troops to identify threats and bypass or defeat them.

"The services we will provide under the task order will enable the DOD to detect and neutralize explosive hazards wherever our forces are deployed," said Terri Spoonhour, Alion senior vice president and Distributed Simulation Group manager. "This will ultimately save lives and ensure our units accomplish their critical missions."

Department of Defense IED technology development focuses on personnel protection, handheld detectors, wide area detection systems, mechanical clearance of ordnance and mine awareness.