Northrop Grumman Corporation celebrated 50 years of infrared countermeasures (IRCM) innovation and performance during the 49th International Paris Air Show 2011.

The company dates its “50 Years of IRCM” anniversary to 1961 when a team of Northrop Grumman engineers developed the first active onboard IRCM system that defeated a Sidewinder missile. From that time, Northrop Grumman has created a litany of IRCM breakthroughs to include the development and introduction of directed infrared countermeasures (DIRCM) lamp-based systems, DIRCM laser-based systems and the Guardian system, specifically designed to protect commercial aircraft.

“Northrop Grumman’s IRCM systems have been saving lives for nearly five decades, and we are not about to stop now,” said Jeff Palombo, Sector Vice President and General Manager of Northrop Grumman’s Land and Self Protection Systems Division.

The current, fifth generation, combat-proven system is a modular open system architecture framework that functions automatically by 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.