Wed, Aug 29, 2007
Northrop Grumman System Installed On Seven MD-10s
Northrop Grumman Corporation announced this week the achievement
of more than 6,000 on-aircraft operational hours for the Guardian
Counter-Man Portable Air Defense System (C-MANPADS) currently
installed on seven wide-body cargo aircraft flying daily in
commercial revenue service.
"This milestone marks an important event for Northrop Grumman
and the aviation industry. For the first time, we have been able to
collect valuable logistics data while operating Guardian on
aircraft in routine commercial service," said Jeff Palombo, vice
president of Infrared Countermeasures at Northrop Grumman's
Defensive Systems Division. "This data proves the Guardian system
is a viable concept for commercial applications to protect aircraft
from today's modern MANPADS threats."
Under the terms of the operational test and evaluation portion
of the US Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) C-MANPADS
program, which concludes in March 2008, a Northrop Grumman-led
industry team has completed production of 12 Guardian missile
defense systems with successful installation to date on seven MD-10 aircraft.
The purpose of this evaluation phase is to collect reliability
data in a standard, day-to-day operational environment and, as of
July 31, the Guardian system has achieved a cumulative total of
5,163 on-aircraft operating hours during more than 1,150 revenue
service flights.
The Guardian system is a defensive aid utilizing proven military
technology to defend against the commercial aviation threat posed
by anti-aircraft, shoulder-fired missiles. Once launched, the
missile is detected by the Guardian system, which then directs a
non-visible, eye-safe laser to the seeker of the incoming missile,
disrupting its guidance signals, and protecting the aircraft.
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