Northrop Grumman Secures ATW Sensor Delivery Contract from the U.S. Navy

Published on June 27, 2012 at 9:41 AM

By Will Soutter

Northrop Grumman has received a delivery contract from the U.S. Navy.

Under this early operational production contract, Northrop Grumman will supply Advanced Threat Warning (ATW) sensors, which are critical components of the Department of Navy Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (DoN LAIRCM) system.

As per the terms of this $25.5 M worth contract, Northrop Grumman will deliver 110 ATW sensors, followed by upgrading of 200 processors for integration within the fielded DoN LAIRCM system. This novel security system safeguards aircrews and aircraft from battlefield threats. The ATW sensor is form-fit and A-kit compatible and can be used with the DoN LAIRCM missile warning system.

ATW is capable of delivering instant warning of heat-seeking missiles, laser-guided weapons, small arms fire, unguided rockets, medium-caliber machine gun fire, and anti-aircraft artillery. It is a high-efficient beneficial tool for promoting overall aircrew situational awareness and survivability. ATW also enables the aircrew to send instant information offboard, stimulating response from ground forces or other aircraft. ATW can be incorporated with various onboard displays such as helmet-mounted displays, multifunction displays, and threat warning indicators, leading to improvement in overall battlefield situational awareness.

This contract award follows last year’s $35 M worth contract presented to Northrop Grumman by the Naval Air Systems Command for developing upgrades to the fielded DoN LAIRCM infrared missile warning system. The DoN LAIRCM system has been designed and constructed by Northrop Grumman.

The versatile IRCM systems of Northrop Grumman are being installed in over 700 military aircraft throughout the Department of Defense for a security mission that includes protection against infrared missile attacks for 50 various large fixed-wing transports and rotary-wing platforms. The functional process of the system includes automatic detection of a missile launch, followed by stimulation of high-intensity, laser-based countermeasure system to target and attack the missile.