a
World Aviation Defense & Security News - South Korea
 
 
South Korea orders LAIRCM countermeasures systems for its future A330 MRTT aircraft
 
The United States State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Republic of Korea for Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) System, equipment, training, and support, for an estimated cost of $141 million, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on November 16, 2016.
     
South Korea orders LAIRCM countermeasures systems for its future A330 MRTT aircraft 640 001(Credit: Northrop Grumman)
     
The Republic of Korea (ROK) has requested the sale and installation of AN/AAQ- 24(V) Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) systems for up to four A-330 Multi-Role Tanker and Transport (MRTT) aircraft. Each LAIRCM system consists of the following major defense equipment (MDE): three Guardian Laser Terminal Assemblies (GLTA), six Ultra-Violet Missile Warning System (UVMWS) Sensors AN/AAR-54, one LAIRCM System Processor Replacement (LSPR), one Control Indicator Unit Replacement (CIUR), one Smart Card Assembly (SCA), one High Capacity Card (HCC), and User Data Memory (UDM) card. The sale includes spares bringing the MDE total to 26 GLTAs, 12 LSPRs, and 54 UVMWS Sensors AN/AAR-54.

The sale also includes the following non-MDE items: CIURs, SCAs, HHCs, UDM Cards, initial spares and repair parts, consumables, support equipment, technical data, engineering change proposals, minor modifications, publications, Field Service Representatives' (FSRs), repair and return, depot maintenance, training and training equipment, contractor technical and logistics personnel services, U.S. Government and contractor representative support, Group A and B installation support, flight test and certification, selective availability anti-spoofing module (SAASM) Global Positioning System, and other related elements of logistics support. The estimated cost is $141 million.

"The ROK is procuring the LAIRCM system to defend and protect its future aerial refueling and troop transport capabilities. This helps the ROK Air Force become more capable of sustaining and projecting air power across large distances and transporting its forces and fighter aircraft for both operational and training missions with less reliance on foreign partners, such as the United States," the DSCA said.

The principal contractor is Northrop Grumman Corporation, Rolling Meadows, IL.