BAE Systems and Northrop Grumman have been selected to develop Common Infrared Countermeasure (CIRCM) systems for the Army, Navy and Marine rotary-wing aircraft.
Under terms of the $38 million, 21-month technology demonstration contract, BAE will provide its Boldstroke laser countermeasure system. The system is compatible with BAE Systems’ Common Missile Warning System, already deployed on most of the Army’s rotary-wing fleet.The Boldstroke system uses a Modular Open System Approach (MOSA) and non-proprietary interfaces that can support interchangeability and technology insertion, according to the company.
“This decision is a validation of our technology and commitment, and of our 30 years’ experience pioneering and delivering this type of technology and the exacting work behind it all, including threat exploitation, jam code development, hardware-in-the-loop simulations, flight tests, and live fire tests,” said Bill Staib, director of BAE Systems’ Survivability & Targeting Solutions business.
Northrop Grumman’s portion of the contract is $31.4 million; the company will work with its partners, SELEX Galileo and Daylight Defense. “We are delighted to have been selected to partner with the U.S. Army on the Technical Demonstration phase of the Common Infrared Countermeasure (CIRCM) program. We look forward to applying Northrop Grumman’s world-leading infrared countermeasures experience and expertise in addressing the man-portable air-defense system (MANPADS) threat faced by rotary-wing aircraft,” the company said in a statement.