The Common Infrared Countermeasure (CIRCM) defense system, developed by Northrop Grumman Corp. and the U.S. Army, has undergone testing and achieved Milestone C, indicating its readiness for combat operation.

This critical milestone, awarded by the U.S. Department of Defense Milestone Decision Authority, marks the end of the development and testing phase and enables the beginning of production and deployment. CIRCM is a lightweight system designed to protect aircraft from IR guided missiles, using laser energy to defend aircraft against advanced IR missiles. It features a modular open systems architecture designed to evolve to defeat emerging IR threats.

To achieve Milestone C, Northrop Grumman has worked closely with the Army to thoroughly test CIRCM. The system has undergone thousands of hours of laboratory, flight, and free-flight missile testing to verify its performance in a range of realistic combat scenarios. Throughout the process, CIRCM demonstrated its ability to protect aircrews by countering threats.

Northrop Grumman’s IR countermeasures systems have been installed on more than 1500 aircraft, representing more than 80 different aircraft types, including large and small fixed-wing, rotary wing, and tilt-rotor platforms. Northrop Grumman is a global security company providing innovative systems, products, and solutions in autonomous systems, cyber, C4ISR, space, strike, logistics, and modernization.