Jerry Petersen
Northrop Grumman has awarded Leonardo DRS a new full-rate production contract for additional Quantum Cascade Laser systems.
Leonardo DRS said Monday that QCL is a commercial off-the-shelf laser that enables the Common Infrared Countermeasure system, a fifth-generation, laser-based infrared capability that works to protect U.S. Army rotary-wing aircraft by tracking and defeating incoming missiles.
Having recently received initial operational capability with U.S. Army aircraft, the CIRCM system is set for installation on over 1,000 helicopters.
Commenting on the award, Timothy Day, senior vice president and general manager of DRS Daylight Solutions, expressed pride in working with Northrop Grumman to ensure the safety of helicopter air crews by providing QCL, which he described as “the ultimate choice for aircraft survivability.”
“As missile and other anti-aircraft threats continue to evolve and proliferate around the world, frontline helicopters will require capable systems like CIRCM to defeat these threats,” Day added.
