As part of its next generation Common Infrared Countermeasures (CIRCM) solution, ITT Corporation, in partnership with Daylight Defense, LLC (Daylight) has fully integrated a quantum cascade laser-based system. ITT’s CIRCM, when fielded, will provide protection from heat-seeking missiles for US and allied helicopters.

“As promised in our proposal response to the Army, we are integrating a quantum cascade laser — the cutting-edge of laser technology — into our system,” said Robert Ferrante, Vice President of ITT Electronic Systems’ Airborne Electronic Attack business. “Daylight’s approach has resulted in an excellent solution for ITT’s CIRCM system, offering a dependable, modular technology for our customers and, ultimately, the warfighter.”

ITT’s solution for the US Army’s CIRCM programme exemplifies a modular open systems approach design philosophy that enables its system to take full advantage of the best components from the defence and commercial sectors. This approach provides the ability to leverage technology advancements and continually add new capabilities to address future threats and environments.

While ITT and Daylight have worked together for several years, the delivery of this fully functional laser system represents the latest in quantum cascade laser (QCL) systems provided by Daylight to ITT. ITT had previously integrated an earlier version of Daylight’s fibre-coupled QCL-based JammIR laser system into its IRCM (infrared countermeasures) system and has conducted several successful flight tests aboard US military UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters.

For the CIRCM programme, ITT will complement its 50-plus years’ experience in electronic warfare system integration with industry-leading technology partners. Employing a best-of-breed approach, ITT has selected the best solutions from the commercial and defence sectors and integrated these with specially developed components such as its pointer-tracker unit, which tracks incoming threats and directs the daylight laser to disorient them.

“Daylight is honoured to have been selected by ITT for this critical piece of its system,” commented Dr. Timothy Day, CEO of Daylight Solutions. “Our team has worked closely with ITT to optimise the performance of our laser system for the company’s CIRCM offering. We are committed to building a world-class manufacturing organisation that will scale with our customers such as ITT.”