 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Large Aircraft Countermeasures Program Completes First Tests
Rolling Meadows IL (SPX) Jul 20, 2004 A full year ahead of schedule, a US Air Force-led team has entered initial operational test and evaluation of Northrop Grumman Corporation's Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) system on Air Force C-17 and C-130 transport aircraft. The LAIRCM system is a laser-based countermeasures system that protects large fixed-wing transports and small rotary-wing aircraft from an infrared missile attack by automatically detecting a missile launch, determining if it is a threat, and activating a high-intensity countermeasure system to track and defeat the threat. LAIRCM is produced by Northrop Grumman's Defensive Systems Division in Rolling Meadows, Ill. "LAIRCM flight testing began last April, featuring a single transmitter configuration, and was rapidly and successfully expanded to include two and three transmitter LAIRCM configurations," said Dr. Robert Del Boca, vice president, Infrared Countermeasures and Laser Systems at the Defensive Systems Division. The test program involved more than 100 flight hours and 2,000 simulated threat engagements. C-17 flight testing was conducted at Edwards and Holloman Air Force Bases, while C-130 testing occurred at Eglin Air Force Base. The regimen also included successful effectiveness testing at the Air Force Electronic Warfare Evaluation Simulator and live missile-firing tests at White Sands Missile Range. The tested LAIRCM system incorporates Northrop Grumman's Viper multiband laser, which features a number of manufacturing technology improvements developed by the Air Force Research Labs (AFRL). The teamwork contributing to the acceleration of the LAIRCM development program included Air Force personnel from Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Air Mobility Command at Scott Air Force Base, 412th Test Wing at Edwards Air Force Base, 46th Test Wing at Eglin Air Force Base, Air Force Test and Evaluation Center (AFOTEC) at Kirkland and Eglin Air Force bases, representatives from the Office of Secretary of Defense, and contractors Lockheed Martin Systems Integration Division, Boeing Long Beach, and the Northrop Grumman LAIRCM team. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links Northrop Grumman SpaceDaily Search SpaceDaily Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express Space Technology News - Applications and Research
LIGO Up And Running, But Gravity Waves Remain Elusive
Washington DC (SPX) Jan 10, 2006Scientists working on the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory said Monday the facility has reached its target detection sensitivity, but the goal of finding the elusive phenomena known as gravity waves remains as elusive as ever. |
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |
