U.S. Army Awards Northrop Grumman $4.84B CIRCM Deal to Protect Helicopters From Infrared Missiles

The U.S. Army awarded Northrop Grumman a firm-fixed-price IDIQ contract with a $4.838 billion ceiling for full-rate production of Common Infrared Countermeasures through September 30, 2035. CIRCM receives threat cues from aircraft missile-warning sensors, then uses two pointer-trackers and modulated laser energy to disrupt infrared-guided missile seekers. Northrop Grumman says it has delivered more than 750 shipsets, accumulating over 75,000 flight hours on AH-64 Apache, UH-60 Black Hawk and CH-47 Chinook helicopters, with integration also planned for FLRAA. Funding and work locations will be set through individual orders, so the ceiling was not fully obligated at award.