BAE and Northrop prepare for third phase of US Counter-Manpads programme after flight testing DIRCM systems
BAE Systems and Northrop Grumman are preparing proposals for the third phase of the US Department of Homeland Security’s Counter-Manpads programme, under which several cargo aircraft will be equipped with anti-missile systems and flown in revenue service to assess their impact on airline operations.
Both companies are wrapping up work under the 18-month second phase of the programme, during which they flight tested competing directional infrared countermeasures (DIRCM) systems on widebody airliners to assess their performance against simulated missiles and obtain US Federal Aviation Administration supplemental type certification (STC).
“We have completed all Phase 2 work,” says Jack Pledger, Northrop’s director of infrared countermeasures business development. The company’s Guardian laser jammer was installed on a FedEx Express Boeing MD-11 for 40h of flight tests at Mojave airport, California and the government test range at Elgin AFB, Florida.
Tests included 658 separate airborne simulations during which the aircraft was flown over a ground-based missile simulator at different altitudes and aspects to measure the DIRCM sensor reactions and jamming signal output. “We met all the test requirements and demonstrated the system met the specification, with 100% success in jamming threats,” says Pledger.
Northrop is awaiting an STC on the MD-11, while availability of the Elgin range has delayed flight tests on a Boeing 747 to late February or early March. Range issues also affected BAE, which planned to complete tests at Eglin last week of an American Airlines Boeing 767 equipped with its JetEye DIRCM. “Initial data is all looking good. It appears the system works as expected,” says Steve DuMont, Counter-Manpads business development manager.
Under Phase 3, both companies will install DIRCMs on several aircraft and obtain STCs on additional types. Goals of Phase 3 include conducting live-fire tests, growing reliability to commercial levels, adding emergency ground notification and providing protection for sensitive military technology in the system. The ability to direct law enforcement to the source of a missile launch will be added.
GRAHAM WARWICK / WASHINGTON DC
Source: Flight International
