29 August 2019: Northrop Grumman Corporation's Common Infrared Countermeasure (CIRCM) systems has entered Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E). It will be used by the US Army.
CIRCM is a lightweight countermeasure system that uses laser energy to defend aircraft from infrared threats. Its modular, open systems architecture permits it to be integrated with systems and sensors to address threats that are current and emerging.
"Exercising our production systems in operational testing will further validate CIRCM's advanced performance, and is a key enabler on the path to full-rate production and wide deployment of this life-saving system to our warfighters," said Bob Gough, vice president, land and avionics C4ISR, Northrop Grumman.
The infrared countermeasures systems by Northrop Grumman have been installed on over 1,500 aircraft, representing more than 80 different aircraft types, including large and small fixed-wing, rotary wing and tilt-rotor platforms.