DR Heads-Up: ITT Common Infrared Countermeasures (CIRCM) with Quantum Cascade Laser: Anti-Missile/Counter-MANPADS Laser System for Military Combat Rotorcraft (Combat Helicopters) and Fixed-Wing Aircraft

By David Crane
defrev (at) gmail (dot) com

October 14, 2011

Recently, DefenseReview (DR) reported on the Northrop Grumman Guardian and AN/AAQ-24(V) Directional Infrared Countermeasure (DIRCM) laser systems designed to kill heat-seaking missiles (thermal/IR signature-intercepting missiles). Well, Northrop Grumman also has a "5th-generation IRCM (Infrared Countermeasure) technology for unparalleled warfighter protection called" Common Infrared Countermeasures (CIRCM), which is comprised of an ECLIPSE Pointer/Tracker and Solaris Laser.

And Northrop Grumman isn't the sole CIRCM system developer. ITT Electrronic Warfare Systems has their own "mature" CIRCM solution for combat rotorcraft and fixed-wing aircraft, which they just debuted at AUSA 2011. A little over a week ago, one of their PR reps sent us a message via email that he'd seen the piece I wrote about counter-MANPAD laser defense systems for aircraft, and that ITT was going going to show its  Common Infrared Countermeasures (CIRCM) unit at said show. This lightweight helicopter defense system weighs less than 85 lbs, is now integrated with a cutting-edge quantum cascade laser, and is ready for production. The system is unique is that it goes beyond just a standard counter-MANPADS system (i.e., confusing and defeating incoming heat-seeking missiles). The ITT CIRCM unit can actually disrupt smalls arms and RPG fire, which is at present a unique capability in the world of IR countermeasures.

The CIRCM program is at least a $1.5 billion program, and will place missile defense systems on 4,000 small and medium-sized Army helicopters. Down-select is currently scheduled for the end of 2011.

Officials from both ITT and Daylight Solutions, billed as the "industry leader" in quantum cascade lasers leveraged for airborne applications, held a press event at AUSA on Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 11. 

Defense Review has requested some ITT CIRCM info/data and images/photos for a follow-up piece.

Company Contacts:

Erik Schechter
Senior Account Manager
Spector & Associates (ITT Electronic Warfare Systems Rep)
Office: 212-943-5858
Email: erik@spectorpr.com
Website: http://www.spectorpr.com

John Dench
ITT Electronic Systems
77 River Road
Clifton, New Jersey 07014-2099
Direct: 973-284-4543
Main: 973-284-0123
Email: John.Dench@itt.com
Website: http://es.itt.com/circm

Bob Lawler
Business Development Manager
ITT Electronic Warfare Systems 
Telephone: 973-284-3692
Fax: 973-284-4122
Cell: 973-934-1075
Email: bob.lawler@itt.com
Website: http://es.itt.com/circm

David J. Albritton
Vice President, Communications
ITT Defense
Phone: 703-790-6320
Cell: 703-298-5011 
Email: David.Albritton@itt.com
Website: http://es.itt.com/

© Copyright 2011 DefenseReview.com. All rights reserved. This content/material may not be republished, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without first receiving permission and providing proper credit and appropriate links.

Related Articles:

Heat-Seeking Missile Killer: Northrop Grumman Guardian Anti-Missile Laser System/Missile Defense System (MDS)/Counter-MANPADS Aircraft Pod (Military and Commercial Aircraft) vs. Russian KBM Igla-S (SA-24) “9M342″ Man-Portable/Packable Fire-and-Forget Surface-to-Air Missile System/MANPADS.

KBM IGLA-S MANPADS: Russian Manpackable Shoulder-Launched Fire-and-Forget Surface-to-Air Missile System

Lasing Skulls in the Digital Age: Tactical Laser Weapons Finally Maturing for Future Warfare Applications: Meet the Boeing ATL (Advanced Tactical Laser) Airborne Laser Weapon

SPIKE Shoulder-Launched Fire-and-Forget Guided Missile Kills Fast-Moving Threats

Fury and CAMCOPTER S-100 UAS/UAVs Armed with Lightweight Multirole Missile (LMM)

New RPO Shmel-M Infantry Rocket Flamethrower Man-Packable Thermobaric Weapon

NRI AutoCopter Hyper-Lethal Armed Mini Robotic Attack Helicopter/Gunship with Turbine Engine Debuts