Article Posted on : - Sep 08, 2011

CH-53 aircraft.

ROLLING MEADOWS (BNS): US Navy has awarded an Advanced Threat Warning (ATW) sensors contract to Northrop Grumman.

The sensors will upgrade the Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (DoN LAIRCM) system, which protects aircrews and aircraft from battlefield threats.

"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," Carl Smith, vice president of infrared countermeasures programmes at Northrop Grumman's Land and Self Protection Systems Division, said.

Under the contract, Northrop Grumman will deliver 24 ATW sensors and five processors for integration onboard the CH-53 aircraft as part of the currently fielded DoN LAIRCM system.

The ATW sensor is form-fit and A-kit compatible with the currently deployed DoN LAIRCM missile warning system.

Northrop Grumman's IRCM system will protect approximately 50 different types of large fixed-wing transports and rotary-wing platforms from infrared missile attacks.

The system functions by automatically detecting a missile launch, determining if it is a threat and activating a high-intensity laser-based countermeasure system to track and defeat the missile.