Upgrade to self-protection system keeps NATO AWACS safe

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. R. Michael Longoria
  • NATO E-3A Component Public Affairs
MANCHING, Germany --  Electronic Systems Center personnel and their NATO counterparts recently celebrated the completion of a retrofit program for the NATO E-3A AWACS aircraft with a ceremony here.

The NATO E-3A Large Aircraft Infra-Red Counter Measures (LAIRCM) Retrofit Program upgrades the aircraft's self-protection system with a countermeasure system.

"This critical capability is what enables our NATO AWACS fleet to operate in combat operations today and LAIRCM will keep us safe for a long time to come," said Maj. Gen. Stephen Schmidt, NATO Airborne Electronic Warning and Control (AEW&C) Force commander, during the ceremony.

ESC's NATO AWACS program office, as the U.S. agent for NATO, worked diligently with their NATO counterparts to meet this Supreme Allied Commander Europe urgent requirement.

"LAIRCM is indicative of ESC fulfilling its acquisition mission," said Col. Bruce Monroe, International AWACS Branch chief at ESC. "It's a prime example of acquisition professionals putting capability into the hands of the warfighter. Congratulations to ESC, NAPMA and the contractor teams."

The Center contracted with Northrop Grumman Overseas Support Company for the procurement of the LAIRCM system and the design to integrate the system onto the NATO AWACS. With the last E-3A retrofitted with LAIRCM, the Component's entire fleet is now standardized to defend itself against man-portable air defense weapons such as stingers.

The ceremony, which was held June 5, was a normal ceremony with speeches followed by the official transfer of the aircraft to Maj. Gen. Stephen Schmidt, NATO Airborne Electronic Warning and Control (AEW&C) Force commander, who declared this LAIRCM fully operational. Schmidt then handed NL-17 back to Col. Paul Bell, E-3A Component Logistics Wing commander.

Attendees from ESC included Ron Mason, Battle Management program executive officer and Monroe. Also in attendance was their NATO counterpart, Brig. Gen. Ludwig Leinhos, NATO AEW&C Programme Management Agency (NAPMA) general manager, along with personnel from the E-3A Component and Force Command.

The impact LAIRCM will have is tremendous.

LAIRCM, an autonomous active defensive system, uses a high-intensity laser beam to jam missiles and gives crews immediate situational awareness using an integrated display in the flight deck.

"It gives us the real protection we need to operate in a tough combat environment," Schmidt said. "It allows us to get the job done safely every day."

With the protection that LAIRCM provides, the Component has been able to conduct more than 480 missions in support of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. LAIRCM is the key enabler, which gives the E-3A the ability to conduct out-of-area operations anywhere at anytime.

"It is the reason we are the only AWACS based in Afghanistan today," the general said. "We would not have been based there for the last year without the ability to protect our NATO aircraft and our aircrew."

Editor's note: Greg Petrick of the NATO AWACS Program Office at ESC contributed to this article.