Northrop Grumman to supply IR countermeasure LAIRCM Generation 3 Pods for USAF KC-35 Stratotankers.

The U.S. Department of Defense on January 10 announced that Northrop Grumman Systems was awarded a $16,497,388 firm-fixed-price delivery order for the KC-135 Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) Generation 3 Pods.

Follow Air Recognition on Google News at this link

Northrop Grumman’s laser-based LAIRCM infrared countermeasure packages advanced missile warning sensors, a pointer/tracker and a processor into a pod that can be transferred between KC-135 aircraft for survivability (Picture source: U.S. Air Force)

This effort supports the production of the LAIRCM pod for the KC-135 Stratotanker. Work will be performed in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, and is expected to be completed by March 23, 2026. This contract was a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2022 National Guard and Reserve Equipment Appropriations funds for $16,497,388 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity.

The Generation 3 podded LAIRCM system, known previously as Guardian, is an infrared countermeasure system that detects, tracks and jams incoming missiles. It incorporates advanced missile warning sensors, a compact laser pointer/tracker and a processor in a single pod that can be readily transferred between aircraft to meet rapidly changing mission requirements. This mature system leverages Northrop Grumman’s decades-long countermeasures experience and requires no aircrew intervention. KC-135 aircrews can focus on their critical refueling, aeromedical evacuation and cargo missions while gaining the full survivability benefit the LAIRCM system provides.

To achieve Milestone C, Northrop Grumman worked closely with the KC-135 Program Office, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Command to thoroughly test LAIRCM for KC-135 in the laboratory and the field.

“In this changing threat environment, the LAIRCM Generation 3 pod is ready to provide much-needed protection to KC-135 aircrews as they carry out their critical support missions,” said Bob Gough, vice president, land and avionics C4ISR, Northrop Grumman.

Northrop Grumman's infrared countermeasure systems have been installed on more than 1,800 large and small fixed-wing, rotary wing and tilt-rotor platforms of more than 80 types.