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2020-02-02

Northrop Grumman’s CIRCM Completes Free Flight Missile Testing

Northrop Grumman Corporation’s Common Infrared Countermeasure (CIRCM) system for the U.S. Army has successfully completed free flight missile testing at White Sands Missile Range.

“CIRCM has undergone thousands of hours of testing to verify its performance in a range of realistic combat scenarios,” said Bob Gough, vice president, land and avionics C4ISR, Northrop Grumman. “During the recent testing at White Sands Missile Range, our system once again demonstrated superior capability in countering infrared threats. We look forward to providing the U.S. Army with this unparalleled protection.”

As part of this test, the CIRCM system was presented with engagements in both single and multiple shot scenarios while mounted to an aircraft that hangs from an aerial cable. The successful completion of this testing is a significant milestone on the path to full rate production, indicating that CIRCM is ready to help protect the U.S. Army aircraft from infrared threats. Blackhawk helicopters along with other Army aircraft will receive additional protection from enemy threats with the use of Common Infrared Countermeasure system.

Light Weight System Using Laser against Infrared Threats

CIRCM is a lightweight countermeasure system that uses laser energy to defend rotary wing, tilt rotor and small fixed wing aircraft against infrared threats. Its modular, open systems architecture allows it to be integrated with systems and sensors to address current and emerging threats. CIRCM integrates defensive IR countermeasures capabilities into existing, current-generation aircraft to engage and defeat man-portable air defence systems (MANPADS).

Northrop Grumman Corporation’s CIRCM solution uses a compact pointer/tracker, a lightweight COTS processor and advanced Quantum Cascade Laser (QCL) technology for greater reliability and scalability.

CIRCM is part of a suite of infrared countermeasures that also includes a missile warning system (MWS) and an Improved Countermeasure Dispenser (ICMD) for flares and chaff. The Army’s current MWS is the Common Missile Warning System (CMWS) with the third-generation electronic control unit (ECU), which is responsible for detecting and declaring on an IR threat. Both CIRCM and the ICMD receive the handoff from CMWS and provide appropriate countermeasures to defeat the threat. CIRCM is the lightweight solution to replace the highly combat effective Advanced Threat Infrared Countermeasures (ATIRCM) system enabling integration of laser based IR countermeasures onto smaller aircraft.

High Level Low Risk Protection

Northrop Grumman is leading the way in laser DIRCM. They have been protecting warfighters against infrared threats for more than 50 years, with a track record of innovation and investment in IRCM technologies. With Northrop Grumman, high-level protection comes with low risk.

The CIRCM system completes Northrop Grumman’s full suite of electronic warfare protection systems, to include advanced missile warning, hostile fire indication, radar warning, radio frequency jamming, laser warning, IRCM jamming capabilities, and cockpit digitisation.

Northrop Grumman's infrared countermeasures systems have been installed on more than 1,500 aircraft, representing more than 80 different aircraft types, including large and small fixed-wing, rotary wing and tilt-rotor platforms.

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