Northrop Grumman bags USAF contract
14 Jan 2009
The United States Air Force has awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation a contract to deliver Next Generation Missile Warning Systems (NexGen MWS) as the latest upgrade to its Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) system, which protects aircrews and high value aircraft from shoulder-fired, heat seeking missiles.
Under the terms of the contract, Northrop Grumman will deliver NexGen MWS sensors to be integrated into the LAIRCM system. The Next Gen MWS is the first two-colour infrared missile warning sensor to be fielded by the Air Force. Northrop Grumman also developed and supplied the LAIRCM system.
The LAIRCM system is now installed or scheduled for installation on several hundred military aircraft to protect over 48 different types of aircraft platforms from infrared missile threats. The system functions automatically by detecting a missile launch, determining if it is a threat, and activating a high-intensity laser-based countermeasure system to track and defeat the missile.
Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company with 120,000 employees, providing systems, products, and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, shipbuilding and technical services to governments and commercial customers.
