The US Army has awarded Northrop Grumman a $4.8-billion contract for the full-rate production of the Common Infrared Countermeasure (CIRCM) system.
According to the notice, the work location and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of September 30, 2035.
Northrop has already delivered more than 750 CIRCM shipsets, while the systems have already achieved over 75,000 operational flight hours across the army’s AH-64 Apache, CH-47 Chinook, and UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters.
The CIRCM has also reportedly been selected to equip the service’s Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) program, which will replace a portion of the aging UH-60 fleet.
Protecting Aircraft From Missiles
The fifth-generation CIRCM is a lightweight system, featuring an open architecture, that is compatible with rotary-wing, tiltrotor, and small fixed-wing aircraft.
Mounted externally on military aircraft, the system uses an advanced laser and pointing technology to steer enemy infrared-guided missiles off course in all-weather and all-altitude conditions.
The system has been ordered by the UK for its Royal Air Force H-47 Chinooks and Germany for its CH-47 Chinook fleet.
