DIRCM large transmitter system airborne tests completed

June 16th, 1999

Northrop Grumman Corporation said at the Paris Air Show that its Electronic Sensors and Systems Sector has successfully completed contractor flight tests of its AN/AAQ-24(V) Directional Infrared Countermeasures System (DIRCM) designed to evaluate the effectiveness of its large transmitter system.

The DIRCM system is a joint programme for the U.K. Ministry of Defence and the US Special Operations Command.

DIRCM, developed by Northrop Grumman's Defensive Systems Division facility together with its major teaming partner Marconi Electronics Systems, is designed to protect various types of rotary and fixed-wing aircraft from heat seeking missiles. The system detects missile launches, determines if they are a threat to the aircraft, warns the aircrew and activates its high-powered, arc-lamp countermeasures. Two separate versions of the systems have been developed to accommodate a wide variety of aircraft. The system design allows for the eventual integration of a laser, presently in development.

This phase of the flight test programme took place at a test range near Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., over a 15-week period. The Nemesis DIRCM was mounted on a test C-130 aircraft. Customer tests are scheduled to be completed in the month of June.

The flight tests involved simulated missile launches to verify the DIRCM system functions including threat detection, handoff of the threat from its missile warning system to a fine track sensor, and the directing of jamming energy for the duration of the engagement.

Previous successful flight tests were conducted on a United Kingdom Ministry of Defence Sea King helicopter using the DIRCM small transmitter system during the first six months of 1998. That system has also undergone live fire testing, which occurred in May of 1998 at White Sands Missile Range, N.M.

"The DIRCM system is working extremely well,'' said Bill Brackney, vice president and general manager of Northrop Grumman's Defensive Systems Division. "We are anticipating a successful conclusion of the large transmitter live fire test by summer's end, which is a key milestone for the DIRCM programme.''

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