Date: Jul 31, 2009 Author: Chris Buckley Source: Company Data (
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Technology being developed in the Valley to protect servicemen and women in the war on terror could be getting a boost from Washington.
The Defense Appropriations Bill, which the House approved Thursday, includes $6 million for Nokomis Inc., of Charleroi, to continue development of detection, identification and anti-IED technology, U.S. Rep. John Murtha reported.
Improvised Explosive Devices, better known as IEDs, have killed or wounded tens of thousands of American service members in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The bill will be considered by the Senate in September.
"It's crucial that technology be provided to our troops which effectively identifies and defeats these explosives," Murtha said in an e-mailed release. Formed in 2002, Nokomis is located at 308-310 Fifth St. The company has additional offices in Pittsburgh and Toledo, Ohio.
The company specializes in electromagnetic effects and electromagnetic signature detection. Nokomis exploits electromagnetic waves through patent-pending technology that has the capability to detect, locate and track electronic devices and their users.
The technology developed by Nokomis can be used by military or law enforcement personnel to identify the threat of IEDs.
This is not the first time the federal government has rewarded Nokomis for its defense-related technology work.
At the ribbon-cutting ceremonies in October for the expanded Charleroi offices, Murtha announced three contracts secured by Nokomis.
Murtha, chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, at that time secured $3.2 million in the fiscal year 2009 Defense Appropriations Bill for Nokomis to continue its work.
In addition, Nokomis was awarded a $9.9 million contract from the Defense Department to continue development of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle based Advanced Electromagnetic Location of Electronic Devices IED system and $750,000 from the U.S. Air Force for remote-controlled IED identification.
In its expanded facility, Nokomis built a state-of-the-art laboratory as well as a conference room.
Nokomis now occupies 50,000 square feet of laboratory space in Charleroi.
