US Army Selects Northrop Grumman to Improve Aircraft Survivability

Northrop Grumman has been chosen by the U.S. Army to compete in the first phase of the Improved Threat Detection System program.

The program will feature Northrop Grumman's Advanced Tactical Hostile Engagement Awareness  ATHENA sensor under an Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) through the Consortium Management Group, Inc., for the C5 Consortium.

ATHENA is a next-generation missile warning sensor that provides continuous 360-degree situational awareness, enhancing aircraft protection and survivability. It offers high-resolution surround video and wide-band threat detection, quickly geolocating incoming Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) threats. This includes hostile fire, anti-tank guided missiles, small arms fire, medium and large-caliber machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades, and anti-tank guided munitions.

Dennis Neel, survivability development programs director, Northrop Grumman Said “ATHENA can see where pilots can’t, even looking through an aircraft floor. The sensor delivers safety in-flight through advanced threat warning capabilities and situational awareness previously limited to larger aircraft, making missions safer for pilots and aircrews.”

Northrop Grumman’s ATHENA sensor  has been tested in government live-fire exercises and can be easily integrated into aircraft as a replacement for older sensors, functioning alongside countermeasure systems such as the Common Infrared Countermeasure system.