Northrop Grumman has completed free-flight testing for the Common Infrared Countermeasure System, the company announced today.
The CICRM, the Army's laser-based infrared countermeasure system that would protect aircraft from incoming missiles, was tested at White Sands Missile Range, NM and included "engagements in both single and multiple shot scenarios while mounted to an aircraft that hangs from an aerial cable," according to a company statement.
Northrop Grumman Vice President Bob Gough stated the system underwent thousands of hours of testing in a range of realistic combat scenarios and "demonstrated superior capability in countering infrared threats."
The CIRCM was scheduled in June of last year to begin cybersecurity, laboratory and free-flight missile testing on kits A and B, which included both hardware and software components of the system.
Col. Kevin Chaney, project manager for aircraft survivability equipment, previously told Inside Defense a full-rate production decision for the CIRCM is expected in June.