Leonardo has announced delivery of the 1,000th infrared sensor package it says is a key component of the missile warning system on US Army helicopters.
The company’s infrared sensor is at the core of BAE Systems’ 2-Color Advanced Warning System (2CAWS), which protects pilots and crews from missile threats.
It also helps in providing advanced 360-degree detection capabilities for enhanced survivability.
A ceremony was held at a Leonardo DRS facility to celebrate the delivery milestone, with officials from the US Army and BAE Systems in attendance.
“We are proud to have reached this important milestone and be partnered with BAE Systems to have developed this critical life-saving technology for aircrews,” company vice president Jerry Hathaway said.
Learning From Ukraine
Leonardo DRS said it has been focusing on advancing infrared sensor technologies for better “protection of men and women of the US armed forces.”
Its 2CAWS sensor was specifically designed to integrate with countermeasure systems to protect against shoulder-fired and vehicle-launched surface-to-air missiles.
Hathaway said this capability is crucial in modern warfare, as highlighted in Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
According to recent data released by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, a total of 326 Russian helicopters have been downed since February 2022.
Kyiv has also had a fair share of battlefield losses, including in March when Moscow’s Verba missile system allegedly downed a Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopter in the Sumy Region.