CRESTVIEW — The combined industry team of L-3 Crestview Aerospace, Northrop Grumman Corporation and Lockheed Martin recently achieved the 400th consecutive on-time delivery of a self-protected aircraft system.
This milestone included a March 15 ceremony at the L-3 Crestview Aerospace facility at the Bob Sikes Airport in Crestview.
The team has delivered the high-quality item — called the Directional Infrared Countermeasures/Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures-modified aircraft — for more than 15 years, with all 400 aircraft delivered on time. As a result, the U.S. Air Force warfighters are better equipped to perform their mission and have a system that provides superior protection to both aircraft and aircrews. The team delivered the first DIRCM-modified MC-130H Combat Talon II to the U.S. Air Force in March 2001.
The installations included multiple variants and configurations of Northrop Grumman’s DIRCM/LAIRCM systems. Lockheed Martin provided installation engineering, electrical kit manufacturing and program management, and L-3 Crestview Aerospace provided mechanical kit manufacturing, aircraft modifications and maintenance.
The only such aircraft protection system currently in production, Northrop Grumman’s DIRCM/LAIRCM system is now installed or scheduled for installation on more than 1,200 military aircraft to protect more than 55 different types of large fixed-wing transports and rotary-wing platforms from infrared missile attacks. The system functions by automatically detecting a missile launch, determining if it is a threat, and activating a high-intensity laser-based countermeasures system to track and defeat the missile.
L-3 Crestview Aerospace has fabricated the more than 435 DIRCM/LAIRCM aircraft installation kits it has installed, as well as spares and kits for installation at other sites. There were more than 33 different configurations based on aircraft-unique specifications and customer requirements.
“The delivery of the 400th consecutive DIRCM/LAIRCM aircraft is a phenomenal accomplishment for our Crestview team and industry partners, and we are proud to have achieved such a great milestone,” said Woody Tignor, vice president and general manager of L-3 Crestview Aerospace. “Consistent, quality performance is critical in supporting the warfighter’s mission, and this milestone is a reflection of 15 years of integration excellence and dedication to that mission.”
“This team has collaborated for 15 years to deliver these 400 aircraft without missing a beat. This partnership demonstrates our commitment to the warfighters who rely on these enhanced capabilities to protect aircraft and its aircrews,” said Paula Hartley, vice president of Advanced Product Solutions for Lockheed Martin. “We are proud to be a member of this team and are looking forward to the next 24 deliveries to the Air Force Special Operations Command.”
“This same industry partnership has worked together for 15 years to design, qualify, test and deliver DIRCM/LAIRCM capability to the U.S. Air Force, and we’re proud to take this 400th on-time delivery as an opportunity to celebrate this important team achievement,” said Carl Smith, vice president of Mission Solutions at Northrop Grumman.
“This work, along with our latest partnership to provide a high-performing, open architecture digital radar warning receiver, jammer and geolocation capability in a low-risk Group A installation for Special Operations Command AC/MC-130Js, provides the most robust, battle-proven capability to protect the warfighter from advanced and emerging missiles.”
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: L-3 celebrates major aircraft delivery milestone