Northrop Grumman and Daylight Solutions have announced the successful integration and test of the Solaris Quantum Cascade Laser (QCL)-based system into the Northrop Grumman offering for the United States Army's mission-critical Common Infrared Countermeasures (CIRCM) program.

The result of a multiyear effort by a Northrop Grumman-Daylight Solutions team, the Solaris laser is part of a fully compliant and mature CIRCM system solution.

The capabilities of Daylight Solutions' QCL-based laser solution have been validated through multiple government tests to protect both fixed and rotary wing aircraft against missile threats, such as man portable air defense systems.

"With Daylight Solutions, we are adding the leaders in QCL-based laser technology to the Northrop Grumman CIRCM solution," said Jeffrey Palombo, sector vice president and general manager of Northrop Grumman's Land and Self Protection Systems Division.

"Our candidate system offers the warfighter the most mature aircraft protection available in an open architecture package. Open architecture provides efficiency, economy and long-term platform protection as new threats emerge."

The Northrop Grumman-led CIRCM team also includes SELEX Galileo, which will provide the Economic Compact Lightweight Pointer-Tracker System (ECLIPSE) jam head. Northrop Grumman and SELEX Galileo have been working in partnership on advanced IRCM systems for more than 15 years.

Northrop Grumman Corporation is the industry leader in Directional Infrared Countermeasures (DIRCM) laser design and production, with over 2,400 lasers fielded to date.

Its IRCM systems have been installed on over 750 aircraft representing 50 different aircraft types, including large and small fixed-wing, rotary-wing and tilt-wing platforms.