BAE Systems and Northrop Grumman each awarded $45 million contracts to build and test flying prototypes
Competing teams led by BAE Systems and Northrop Grumman will continue work on adapting military directional infrared countermeasure (DIRCM) systems to widebody airliners.
The US Department of Homeland Security selected both teams to advance to Phase II of the Counter-Manpads (man-portable air defence system) programme, awarding each a $45 million contract to flight test prototypes within 18 months.
The downselect narrows the USA's focus on protecting airlines from attack by shoulder-fired missiles to two competing types of laser jammers, ruling out a possibly cheaper decoy-based system proposed by a consortium led by United Airlines.
United's design, developed by L-3 Communications and SaabTech, was discarded by DHS officials based on the results of a preliminary design review in mid-August, says Dr Charles McQueary, undersecretary for science and technology. United's proposal relied on developing new tools to reduce the system's false-alarm rate, but DHS doubts they will be ready within the 18-month timeline for Phase II, says McQueary.
The two finalists, meanwhile, must complete critical design reviews within six to eight months. BAE Systems plans to install a prototype system on a Boeing 767 in time for a first flight later next year. Northrop Grumman's proposal calls for mounting trial systems on a Boeing 747 and a Boeing MD-11.
BAE, teamed with Delta Air Lines and Honeywell, is adapting the ALQ-212(V) Advanced Threat Infrared Countermeasures (ATIRCM) system developed for US Army helicopters. Northrop Grumman's team includes Northwest Airlines and FedEx Express. The team is offering a version of the AAQ-24(V) Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) system now flying aboard Boeing C-17s.
Performance is considered secondary to cost. DHS is aiming to field jammers that cost less than $1 million after the 1,000th system is produced and can be operated for less than $500 a flight. The teams also must design a non-disruptive, global maintenance system that also observes US export control rules for highly sensitive technologies.
STEPHEN TRIMBLE / WASHINGTON DC
Source: Flight International
