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BAE Systems’ Boldstroke® Selected for U.S. Army Common Infrared Countermeasures Solution

Dépèche transmise le 2 février 2012 par Business Wire

BAE Systems’ Boldstroke® Selected for U.S. Army Common Infrared Countermeasures Solution

NASHUA, N.H.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BAE Systems has been selected by the U.S. Army as one of two contractors to develop the next generation Common Infrared Countermeasure (CIRCM) solution – a lightweight directed infrared countermeasure system for Army, Navy, and Marine rotary-wing aircraft. The 21-month technology demonstration award is valued at $38 million.

“‘Our motto is ‘We Protect Those Who Protect Us®’ and that’s really what this achievement boils down to. Our employees are completely dedicated to that mission, and it shows in the reliability and sustainability of our products that ultimately bring our servicemen and servicewomen home safely.”

BAE Systems’ “Boldstroke®” solution synthesizes the best attributes of prior generation laser jamming systems to meet the size, weight, and power requirements of rotary-wing and light fixed-wing platforms.

“This decision is a validation of our technology and commitment, and of our 30 years’ experience pioneering and delivering this type of technology and the exacting work behind it all, including threat exploitation, jam code development, hardware-in-the-loop simulations, flight tests, and live fire tests,” said Bill Staib, director of BAE Systems’ Survivability & Targeting Solutions business. “‘Our motto is ‘We Protect Those Who Protect Us®’ and that’s really what this achievement boils down to. Our employees are completely dedicated to that mission, and it shows in the reliability and sustainability of our products that ultimately bring our servicemen and servicewomen home safely.”

The Boldstroke system is a lightweight, reliable, low-cost infrared laser countermeasure designed to protect aircraft from infrared-guided missiles and other evolving infrared guided threats. It is compatible with BAE Systems’ field-proven Common Missile Warning System, already deployed on most of the Army’s rotary-wing fleet.

The Boldstroke system uses a Modular Open System Approach (MOSA) and non-proprietary interfaces that can support interchangeability and technology insertion, providing flexibility for decades to come.

The system reduces A-Kit and B-Kit weight to maximize aircraft useful payload, and increases weapon system availability, providing significant life-cycle cost savings. The system uses flight-proven hardware and algorithms tested in BAE Systems’ flight simulation laboratory, which allows it to be tested against today’s most predominant threats and anticipated emerging threats. Boldstroke systems will leave BAE Systems’ facility in New Hampshire ready for operational testing on the aircraft.

BAE Systems has delivered more than 10,000 IRCM systems for inclusion on every Army platform. “These systems have saved lives and continue to save lives in combat,” Staib said.

Last year, BAE Systems opened the Worrell/Weeks Aircrew Protection Center, a $20 million facility for testing and evaluating equipment used for defending helicopters and other aircraft against infrared-guided missiles and hostile fire. This new facility is part of a three-year, $70 million investment in developing state-of-the-art manufacturing and systems engineering facilities for integrated aircraft survivability equipment.

For more information about the Boldstroke system and BAE Systems’ integrated aircraft survivability solutions, visit www.baesystems.com/boldstroke.