NATO AWACS Deal

Northrop Grumman Corp. won a $104.6 million contract to outfit 17 NATO airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft with the company’s Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) system. The LAIRCM system is a laser-based countermeasures system that operates automatically by detecting a missile launch, determining if it is a threat and activating a high-intensity infrared countermeasure system to track and defeat the threat. Under the terms of the contract with the U.S. Air Force’s Electronic Systems Center on behalf of the NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Program Management Organization, Northrop Grumman will begin LAIRCM system deliveries this year, with final deliveries expected in 2009. More