Northrop Grumman awarded contract for large aircraft infrared countermesure

June 30 (UPI) -- Northrop Grumman Systems has received a $179 million modification to an existing contract for Large Aircraft Infrared Counter Measure hardware and support services.

The work will be conducted at Rolling Meadows, Ill., and is projected to be completed by April 2019, the Department of Defense announced Thursday. Fiscal 2015, 2016, and 2017 operations and maintenance, research, development, test and evaluation, National Guard and overseas contingency operations funds of $14.8 million are being obligated upon award.

It includes $157,091 in foreign military sales funding to Canada, Australia, Saudi Arabia and NATO.

The Large Aircraft Infrared Counter Measure system is designed to provide protection against man-portable and vehicle launched infrared-guided surface-to-air-missiles for large, unmaneuverable aircraft. The proliferation of man-portable SAMs makes heavy transport and support aircraft particularly vulnerable.

It uses the AN/AAQ-24(V) Directional Infrared Countermeasure system to detect and track infrared threats while automatically jamming them using an infrared laser. Northrop Grumman claims it is the only system capable of defeating all modern infrared missiles.

The LAIRCM is designed specifically for heavy lift planes such as the C-130J and C-17 cargo planes and the KC-130 tanker.