Northrop Grumman has been awarded a $3.6 billion IDIQ contract for Large Aircraft Infrared Counter Measures (LAIRCM) equipment and support, the US Department of Defense said on December 17, 2018.

Northrop's Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) system
(Credit: Northrop Grumman)

“This contract provides for LAIRCM line replaceable units, support equipment, logistics support related activities, systems and sustaining engineering, program management, and other efforts necessary supporting efforts specified in each task/delivery order,” the Pentagon stated. 

This contract, which is expected to be completed by December 2025, involves numerous foreign military sales requirements.

Northrop's LAIRCM, system is an active countermeasure that defeats the threat missile guidance system by directing a high-intensity modulated laser beam into the missile seeker.

The LAIRCM system consists of a missile warning system (AN/AAR-54), an integration unit, a processor, and laser turrets (Small Laser Transmitter Assembly, SLTA).

Northrop Grumman's various infrared countermeasure systems are now installed or scheduled for installation on more than 1,000 military aircraft around the world to protect 55 different types of large fixed-wing transports and rotary-wing platforms from infrared missile attacks. The mature, reliable technology has been incorporated in more than 3,250 pointer/trackers that are now in full-rate production to protect these aircraft, supporting more than 1 million hours of theatre operation.