U.S. Marine Corps officials needed infrared missile warning systems to protect their fleets of medium- and heavy-lift helicopters from heat-seeking missiles–particularly from shoulder-fired ground-to-air missiles. They found their solution from the Northrop Grumman Corp. Electronic Systems sector in Rolling Meadows, Ill.

Officials of the U.S. Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Md., are awarding an $80 million contract to provide infrared missile warning systems (IRMWS) and processors for 156 Navy and Marine Corps CH-53D, CH-53E, and CH-46E helicopters. This hardware will work together with Northrop Grumman's Guardian laser transmitters and control indicators in the Navy's Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures laser missile defense systems for Navy and Marine Corps helicopters.

Northrop Grumman's LAIRCM system, installed or scheduled for installation on more than 500 military aircraft, automatically detects a missile launch, determines if it is a threat, and activates a high-intensity laser-based countermeasure system to track and defeat the missile. These missile-warning systems will enable these helicopters to fly in and out of areas previously denied to them where threats from infrared-guided missiles were considered too severe, say Northrop Grumman officials.

Northrop Grumman will deliver more than 450 infrared missile warning systems and 90 processors to the Navy. "Protecting vulnerable, rotor-wing aircraft during this era of irregular warfare is paramount," says Carl Smith, vice president of infrared countermeasures for Northrop Grumman's Land and Self Protection Systems Division.

For more information, visit Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems online at www.es.northropgrumman.com.

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