ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill., Sept. 7 (UPI) -- Northrop Grumman was awarded a contract by the U.S. Navy to provide advance threat warning sensors to help protect aircraft from battlefield threats.
The ATW sensors are the latest upgrade to the Navy's Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures system.
"Northrop Grumman's multifunction ATW sensor provides a four-in-one capability that includes missile warning, laser warning, hostile fire detection and sensor video, all in a single sensor package," said Carl Smith, vice president of infrared countermeasures programs at Northrop Grumman's Land and Self Protection Systems Division.
"With this latest upgrade, our warfighters will have increased threat detection capabilities allowing early warning of heat-seeking missile attacks, small arms fire, medium caliber machine gun fire, anti-aircraft artillery and unguided rocket attacks.
"The multifunctionality aspect of ATW was a concentrated effort to significantly improve affordability over four individual sub-systems while reducing size, weight and power."
Under the contract, Northrop Grumman will deliver 24 ATW sensors and five processors for integration onboard CH-53 aircraft as part of the currently fielded DoN LAIRCM system. The ATW sensor is form-fit and A-kit compatible with the deployed DoN LAIRCM missile warning system.
