Leonardo Partners with Northrop Grumman to Enhance CIRCM Pointer/Tracker Technology
Leonardo has secured a prolonged financial arrangement with Northrop Grumman Corporation to supply pointer/trackers for the United States Army’s Common Infrared Countermeasures (CIRCM) initiative as it transitions into full-scale production. This five-year accord could enable Leonardo to deliver over 1,200 pointer trackers in addition to the 500 units already supplied. Leonardo will produce the pointer/trackers from its facility in Edinburgh, UK, known for pioneering top-tier Directed Infrared Countermeasures (DIRCM) technology for the UK and its allies.
The CIRCM system is an advanced countermeasure designed to shield US Army aircrews and their aircraft from hostile missiles. It functions by homing in on and ‘dazzling’ the threat’s infrared (IR) guidance mechanism with a formidable laser. At the core of the system, Leonardo’s pointer/tracker precisely targets the missile’s seeker, showcasing remarkable engineering prowess, especially given the separation and high-speed maneuvers of both the aircraft and missile.
The agreement marks the latest advancement in a successful, enduring collaboration between Northrop Grumman and Leonardo. The two organizations commenced their partnership in 1995, focusing on the cooperative development of the AN/AAQ-24(V) Nemesis DIRCM for the US Department of Defense and UK Ministry of Defence. Leonardo was responsible for creating and producing the pointer/tracker components for the Nemesis system. Building on that legacy, today’s CIRCM utilizes Leonardo’s state-of-the-art, compact pointer/tracker technology.
More than 500 pointer/tracker units have been delivered by Leonardo to Northrop Grumman for the CIRCM initiative, with initial deliveries to the US Army commencing in 2016. Demonstrating a strong dedication to partnership, Leonardo continued to achieve record production levels throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. After completing a fruitful six-month initial operational test and evaluation (IOT&E) process with the US Army, the CIRCM system is set to enhance US Army platforms, including the CH-47 Chinook, UH-60 Black Hawk, and the AH-64 Apache.
