OREANDA-NEWS. Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has been awarded a combined order of \$111 million to the previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract from the U.S. Air Force to provide hardware and support for the Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasure (LAIRCM) system.

Critical to the safe return of troops abroad, LAIRCM automatically detects a missile launch, determines if it is a threat and activates a high-intensity laser-based countermeasure system to track and defeat the missile.

Under terms of the contract modification, Northrop Grumman will deliver additional transmitters, missile warning sensors, processors, lasers, control interface units and supporting equipment to the Air Force and various customers around the globe through April 2017. In addition to legacy hardware, the delivery will include a modernized control interface unit replacement.

"Aircraft survivability equipment is an essential element of protecting our aircrews," said

Carl Smith, vice president of infrared countermeasures, Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems. "Because of our approach toward modular open systems architecture, we're able to help our warfighters stay ahead of emerging threats by continuing to introduce new technologies adding additional system capability while decreasing system cost and increasing reliability."

Northrop Grumman's various infrared countermeasure systems are now installed or scheduled for installation on more than 1,000 military aircraft around the world to protect 55 different types of large fixed-wing transports and rotary-wing platforms from infrared missile attacks. The mature, reliable technology has been incorporated in more than 3,250 pointer/trackers that are now in full-rate production to protect these aircraft, supporting more than 1 million hours of theatre operation.