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Northrop Grumman has agreed to provide the MJU-73/B and MJU-62A/B infrared countermeasure flares to the United States Air Force to help protect helicopters and aircraft from surface-to-air and air-to-air missiles.
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The deal forms part of a US$61.8 million indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract between the company and the USAF for the equipment.
Charlie Precourt, vice president, propulsion systems at Northrop Grumman, explained how the flares mimic the aircraft’s heat signature to divert missiles.
“These newly developed countermeasure flares simulate an aircraft’s heat signature to divert infrared missiles away from the vehicle and decrease the odds of being struck,” Precourt said.
“Our team is delivering this capability for our customer through our innovative technology, and digital and agile processes that were used during different points of program life cycles.”
According to a statement by the company, the flares are the product of the company’s 50 years of operating in the industry.
It is also expected that ongoing testing will ensure that the equipment continues to improve and keep warfighting operators safe.
The news comes following Northrop Gumman and Ball Aerospace's announcement that the pair completed the Critical Design Review for the Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (Next-Gen OPIR) Geosynchronous (GEO) mission payload.
“The Northrop Grumman and Ball Aerospace team brings deep mission expertise in missile warning and tracking to this program,” Scott Lee, vice president and general manager, payload and ground systems at Northrop Grumman, said.
“Together, we’re delivering another generation of unblinking eyes in space as part of our nation’s strategic deterrence.”
According to Northrop Grumman, the companies were one of two teams to have been asked to design a payload system by Lockheed Martin for the project.
[Related: Northrop Grumman completes design review for new missile warning system]
