EADS Casa has selected Northrop Grumman's Nemesis directional infrared countermeasures (DIRCM) system to protect the Royal Australian Air Force's Airbus A330-200 multi-role tanker transports in a $24 million deal.
The selection builds on the US company's success in supplying the laser-based DIRCM system for the RAAF's future fleet of six Boeing 737 Wedgetail airborne early warning and control system aircraft, the first of which will be delivered in November 2006.
Northrop will deliver its first DIRCM system for the A330 in January 2007, with Australia to accept its five tanker transports from 2009-11. Four will be converted by Qantas Defence Services.
EADS Casa is conducting ground tests of the company-funded refuelling boom at its Getafe plant near Madrid and will launch flight testing later this year using a secondhand A310, says Carlos Suarez-Perez, vice-president for Airbus military derivatives.
Designed for integration with Airbus widebody airframes, the 17.8m (58.4ft)-long boom will be controlled from an operator's console alongside a mission controller/instructor station at the rear of the aircraft's cockpit.
Source: Flight International
