The Royal Canadian Air Force selected Northrop Grumman [NOC] to provide infrared missile protection countermeasures on its fleet of CH-14F Chinook helicopters, the company said on Wednesday.
The company is to provide the latest generation directional infrared countermeasures (DIRCM) system as part of an advanced aircraft survivability suite. The DIRCM system automatically detects a missile launch, determines if it is a threat, and activates a high-intensity, laser-based countermeasure system to track and defeat infrared homing (commonly known as heat-seeking) missiles, Northrop Grumman said.
“Northrop Grumman’s infrared countermeasure systems have been protecting warfighters for more than 50 years. This mature system will give the Royal Canadian Air Force the ability to provide advanced protection against growing threats,” Carl Smith, vice president of infrared countermeasures at Northrop Grumman, said in a statement.
The company has various infrared countermeasure systems installed or scheduled for installation on over 1,000 military aircraft of 55 different types around the world.