A low-rate initial production contract has been issued to Orbiital ATK by the U.S. Air Force for a pyrotechnic missile counter-measure system for aircraft.

The new spectrally matched aircraft counter-measure, MJU-73/B, imitates the heat signature of an aircraft to lure infrared missiles away from the aircraft.

The Air Force will use the system as part of a suite of protective measures on its special operations aircraft. Orbital ATK, which developed the system using its own funds, will use it as the technology baseline for several other counter-measure development efforts.

"Today the MJU-73/B is the best infrared counter-measure available, but every day we try to push beyond what is possible," said Orbital ATK Program Manager Jared Olson. "Our research and manufacturing capabilities will lead to even greater evolutions and effectiveness to protect our nation's warfighters and their aircraft."

The monetary value of the contract and other details were not disclosed.