The UK Ministry of Defence has awarded Northrop Grumman a $152 million contract to provide in-service support for the infrared countermeasures equipment installed on many of its large aircraft.
Announced by Northrop on 18 May, the three-year contract continues the company's previous relationship in delivering support for the large-aircraft infrared countermeasures (LAIRCM) systems on almost 80 UK aircraft across 11 platform types.
These include the Royal Air Force's Boeing C-17 strategic transport (below), Lockheed TriStar tanker/transport and VIP mission-configured BAe 146s.
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© Max Kingsley-Jones/Flight International |
Northrop's LAIRCM support activities will be delivered at its diagnostic and maintenance support facility in Chester and include spare parts, repair services and personnel training.
"This mission-critical contract will enable us to broaden and enhance the range of UK capabilities we are able to offer, and to provide more responsive and efficient support," says Northrop Grumman UK chairman Sir Nigel Essenhigh.
Northrop's LAIRCM system is designed to automatically detect an incoming infrared-guided missile before defeating the threat using a high-powered laser manufactured by the UK's Selex Galileo.
Source: Flight International
