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World Defense & Security News - United Arab Emirates
 
 
 
UAE to protect presidential aircraft with AN/AAQ 24(V) Directional Infrared Countermeasures systems
 
The US State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to the United Arab Emirates for AN/AAQ 24(V) Directional Infrared Countermeasures (DIRCM) Systems and associated equipment, parts and logistical support for an estimated cost of $335 million. The principal contractors will be The Boeing and Northrop Grumman, the US Defense Security and Cooperation Agency announced Wednesday, July 29th.
     
The US State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to the United Arab Emirates for AN/AAQ 24(V) Directional Infrared Countermeasures (DIRCM) Systems and associated equipment, parts and logistical support for an estimated cost of $335 million. The principal contractors will be The Boeing and Northrop Grumman, the US Defense Security and Cooperation Agency announced Wednesday, July 29th. The DIRCM Systems purchased by UAE will enhance protection of country's presidential aircraft fleet
     
The United Arab Emirates has requested a possible sale of four (4) AN/AAQ 24(V) Directional Infrared Countermeasures (DIRCM) systems for its Head of State aircraft. The sale consists of: twenty (20) Small Laser Transmitter Assemblies, ten (10) System Processors, and thirty (30) AN/AAR-54 Missile Warning System sensors. The sale also includes Control Interface Units (CIU), Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Modules (SAASM), Classified User Data Module (UDM) cards, support and test equipment, spare and repair parts, publications and technical documentation, repair and return, Group A and B installation, flight test and certification, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. Government and contractor logistics, engineering, and technical support services, and other related elements of logistics and program support. The total estimated cost is $335 million.

"This proposed sale of DIRCM will help provide protection to the UAE’s Head of State aircraft. DIRCM will facilitate a more robust capability against increased missile threats. The sale of this advanced system will enhance the safety of the UAE's political leadership while bolstering U.S.-UAE relations," the DSCA said.

Abu Dhabi Amiri Flight is the organisation responsible for air transport of the government of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Its current fleet is composed of 9 aircraft, such as Boeing 747-400, Boeing 777-300ER, and Avro RJ100 aircraft. The organisation recently received a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner.

Northrop Grumman's AN/AAQ-24 (V) NEMESIS system is currently in use by numerous armed forces. When NEMESIS detects a missile launch, it determines if it is a threat, warns the aircrew and activates its high-power, countermeasure system to track and defeat the threat. Proven against 35 missiles in totally autonomous live fire tests, the system is in production, and is being installed on a wide array of front-line aircraft.