KC-135 outfitted with defense system

ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill., March 9 (UPI) -- A U.S. Air National Guard's KC-135 fitted with the Northrop Grumman's Guardian anti-missile system has completed air worthiness flight testing.

Successful completion of the flight testing means the aircraft will soon start an Operational Utility Evaluation at a U.S. Air Force base in Florida.

"Guardian will prove a viable option for providing aircraft protection without disruption to KC-135 missions," said Col. Keith Lang, commander of the 190th Air Refueling Wing. "The KC-135 has flown in harm's way since Vietnam and the time is right to add this extremely important defense capability."

Northrop's Guardian System is designed to protect aircraft from the advanced, man-portable air defense systems. The system consists of a multi-band laser pointer/tracker and an ultraviolet missile warning sensor. It operates by detecting launched missiles and then directing a non-visible, eye-safe laser to the seeker head of the incoming missile, disrupting its guidance signals.

The system is contained almost entirely in a single pod that mounts to the underside of the fuselage. Preparation of the aircraft to carry the Guardian kit was said to have taken 55 days.

"Guardian System leverages battle proven hardware and is ready for full rate production" said Carl Smith, vice president of infrared countermeasures for Northrop Grumman's Land and Self Protection Systems Division.