IR Camera Passes Antimissile Test

The UK's Ministry of Defence recently conducted a round of tests on an infrared-based system designed to protect aircraft from heat-seeking missiles. Developed by Northrop Grumman Corp., the Directed Infrared Countermeasures System detects possible threats by maintaining a beam of infrared energy on targeted missiles. The system then determines whether the missile poses a threat, warns air crews and activates arc-lamp-based countermeasures. Engineers at Northrop hope to integrate a laser into the infrared system in future tests.