With the completion of the Common Infrared Countermeasure (CIRCM) Preliminary Design Review (PDR) July 25, Northrop Grumman presented the U.S. Army with a system design that surpasses the program's weight and electrical power requirements and represents the next generation of aircraft survivability systems.
The PDR marked the final design review of the program's technology development phase, providing the Army with the necessary data to move into the engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) phase. Northrop Grumman completed the PDR on schedule based on requirements established at contract award.
“What we presented during the review was exactly what we promised in our proposal to the Army 26 months ago: detailed performance data from mature CIRCM systems demonstrating a system that protects aircrews at an affordable cost,” said Jeff Palombo, Vice President and General Manager of Northrop Grumman's Land and Self Protection Systems Division.
“Our PDR date was established 14 months ago, and with close collaboration with the Army, we executed on time with anticipated results. With our CIRCM system testing moving out smartly, we are well prepared to support our Army customer with compliant EMD hardware and rapid production capability,” he added.
Photo: Paul Lang (right), Director of CIRCM programs at Northrop Grumman in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, presenting Clinton Spratley of Program Management Countermeasures, U.S. Army, with the initial delivery of CIRCM hardware under acceptance testing procedure on 31 January 2013.
