Aircraft
Paris 2011: Northrop Grumman Demonstrates Guardian Pod on KC-135
Northrop Grumman, named to supply its large-aircraft, infrared-countermeasures (LAIRCM) system on the U.S.

Northrop Grumman, named to supply its large-aircraft, infrared-countermeasures (LAIRCM) system on the U.S. Air Force’s new KC-46 tanker, recently demonstrated a podded version of the infrared-countermeasures system on the aircraft the tanker will replace, the KC-135.

The company also demonstrated its belly-mounted Guardian infrared-countermeasures (IRCM) system in Afghanistan in March for KC-135 refueling and aeromedical missions. The components in the pod are the same line-replaceable units (LRUs) used in the LAIRCM system, said Jeff Palombo, Northrop Grumman vice president and general manager for Land and Self Protection Systems Division.