Northrop Grumman will start testing its directional infrared countermeasures (DIRCM) pod on a FedEx Boeing 747 next month, the company said at the show yesterday.
The development comes as it progresses with its test programme as part of the US Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Counter-Manpads project.
The company has been testing the installation on a FedEx Boeing MD-11 for the past three months - the express package carrier and Northwest Airlines are partnering Northrop Grumman on the project.
The DHS has awarded contracts for the final engineering, prototype development, and deployment testing of a protective system for US commercial aircraft against man-portable air defence systems. Two teams, led by BAE Systems and Northrop, are receiving funding of around $45 million each for the 18-month final prototype phase of the programme.
Northrop’s proposal combines an interface plate – which will vary depending on aircraft type – and a common laser jammer pod. The plate takes around four days to fit, something that would normally be accomplished during scheduled maintenance downtime, says the company.
Once the plate is in place, the laser jammer is designed to be installed or removed within an hour. In fact, said Tim McKay, Northrop Grumman’s director of IRCM business development yesterday: “We’ve demonstrated with FedEx mechanics that it can be done in nine minutes.”
Source: Flight Daily News
