U.S. Navy Aircraft to be Equipped with Northrop Infrared Countermeasures Systems

Northrop Grumman said it will integrate the latest version of Department of the Navy’s Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (DoN LAIRCM) systems onto U.S. aircraft under a $115 million production contract signed recently.

The company also won additional contracts recently including integration, sustainment and support of the DoN LAIRCM systems.

The DoN LAIRCM is currently in service on both rotary and fixed wing aircraft. Additionally, Northrop Grumman will install DoN LAIRCM systems on aircraft owned by allied governments.

The DoN LAIRCM system defends aircraft against surface-to-air infrared missile threats. The system automatically counters advanced infrared missile systems by detecting, tracking and jamming the threat with a high-intensity laser beam.

The AN/AAQ-24(V)25, DoN LAIRCM system combines advanced, two-color Infrared Missile Warning System (MWS) and Directed Laser Countermeasures to defeat shoulder-launched missiles fired at aircraft.

The DoN LAIRCM system consists of five major components: Five Infrared (IR) MWS sensors; a dedicated Central Processor; a Control Indicator Unit (CIU) for cockpit display; two Pointer-Tracker/Jamming Subsystems or Guardian Laser Tracker Assemblies (GLTA) consisting of four-axis stabilized gimbaled system, a Fine Track Sensor (FTS) and a ViperTM laser.