The 4th generation lightweight, highly reliable DIRCM
Common Infrared Countermeasures (CIRCM) is intended to provide the U.S. military with a laser-based infrared (IR) countermeasures solution against current and future IR threat systems. For the CIRCM program, the Northrop Grumman-SELEX Galileo team has integrated the ECLIPSE micro pointer/tracker with a processing and laser countermeasures capability to produce a 4th generation lightweight, highly reliable Directional Infrared Countermeasures (DIRCM) system specifically designed for medium and light helicopter protection.
The versatile, open architecture approach that this new system is based upon will allow the customer to use existing equipment such as missile warners and countermeasures dispensers — while improving the survivability of these helicopters significantly with the addition of modern, laser DIRCM capability — and allow continued future growth. Backed by decades of investment, hundreds of thousands of operational flight hours and actual helicopter combat experience, this team is ready to protect the U.S. Army's warfighters.
Successful live fire demonstration
SELEX Galileo began development of its Economic Compact Lightweight Pointer-Tracker System (ECLIPSE) in 2007. An ECLIPSE development model was integrated with the Northrop Grumman Viper™ IRCM laser, processor and missile warner in a highly successful live fire demonstration in 2008 at the Tonopah Missile Range in Nevada. In this test, the ECLIPSE prototype micro pointer/tracker successfully acquired, tracked and defeated an infrared missile in flight.
