BAE Systems to Upgrade Laser for U.S. Army Helicopters

Nashua, New Hampshire, United States. — BAE Systems has received two U.S. Army contracts totaling $54 million to provide a multi-band laser technology upgrade for the Advanced Threat Infrared Countermeasures/Common Missile Warning System (ATIRCM/CMWS) program.

The multi-band laser (MBL) replaces an existing infrared jam laser and flash lamp subsystem to protect helicopters by defeating infrared-seeking missiles.

BAE Systems will deliver four flight-worthy multi-band lasers to support ATIRCM operational test and evaluation. Concurrently, the company will deliver 12 laser units to support Army testing and initial fielding of ATIRCM/CMWS.

“The upgrade provides a significant reliability improvement and lifecycle cost reduction for the ATIRCM/CMWS program, and it improves system performance,” said Chris Rossi, BAE Systems’ MBL program manager in Nashua, New Hampshire.

ATIRCM/CMWS is a multi-band, laser-based countermeasures system that protects aircraft against widely deployed heat-seeking missiles. The combined ATIRCM/CMWS suite evaluates the entire threat environment and selects the appropriate response to counter specific missile threats using an array of countermeasures.