Egypt’s AirForce One to get missile protection
Egypt will buy one AN/AAQ-24(V)N Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) system from the United States to protect its Airbus 340-200 Head-of-State aircraft.
The self-protection suite will improve the survivability of the Airbus from missile attacks.
The principal contractor will be Northrup Grumman and the estimated total cost of the deal is US$104 million.
The Generation 3 podded LAIRCM system, known previously as Guardian, is an infrared countermeasure system that detects, tracks and jams incoming missiles. It incorporates advanced missile warning sensors, a compact laser pointer/tracker and a processor in a single pod that can be readily transferred between aircraft to meet rapidly changing mission requirements.
This mature system leverages Northrop Grumman’s decades-long countermeasures experience and requires no aircrew intervention.
The Airbus 340-200 aircrews can focus on their critical refuelling, aeromedical evacuation and cargo missions while gaining the full survivability benefit the LAIRCM system provides.
Each LAIRCM system consists of three Guardian laser turret assemblies, one LAIRCM system processor replacement, five missile warning sensors, one control indicator unit replacement, one smart card assembly, and one high capacity card/user data memory card.
Northrop Grumman's infrared countermeasure systems have been installed on more than 1,800 large and small fixed wing, rotary wing and tilt-rotor platforms of more than 80 types.
