Laser based missile defense enters Homeland Security test and evaluation

January 17, 2007, Los Angeles, CA--The operation test and evaluation portion of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Counter-Man Portable Air Defense Systems (C-MANPADS) program, began with the departure from Los Angeles International Airport yesterday of an MD-10 aircraft in commercial revenue service carrying a Northrop Grumman (Los Angeles, CA) laser-based missle defense system.

As part of Phase III of the DHS-sponsored program, a Northrop Grumman-led industry team will complete production of Guardian missile defense systems for installation on MD-10 aircraft, to defend against the potential threat posed by anti-aircraft, shoulder-fired missiles. During the test and evaluation effort, which concludes in March 2008, nine MD-10 aircraft equipped with the systems will be in continual revenue service operation. Once launched, a missile is detected by the Guardian system, which then directs a non-visible, eye-safe laser to the seeker head of the incoming missile, disrupting its guidance signals.

"This milestone marks an important event for Northrop Grumman and the aviation industry. For the first time, we will be able to collect valuable logistics data while operating Guardian on aircraft in routine commercial service," said Robert L. DelBoca, vice president and general manager of Northrop Grumman's Defensive Systems Division. "We stand ready to protect America's flying public with the proven technology that we supply to our warfighters worldwide in operational theatre."

To date, Northrop Grumman has completed a 16-month flight test program in commercial test operational environments that included the use of a ground-based electronic missile surrogate to simulate the launch of a shoulder-fired missile toward aircraft during takeoff and landing. The tests were performed on an MD-11, an MD-10 and a B-747 aircraft. In each test, the Guardian system functioned as designed, automatically detecting the simulated launch and mock missile. Had the threats been real, a laser beam would have disrupted the missile guidance system to protect the aircraft.

The company's Guardian system makes use of multi-band laser and other technologies from the company's military directional infrared countermeasures system, the only such protection system currently in production for the U.S. military and several allied nations.

In photo below, Northrop Grumman President and Chief Financial Officer Wes Bush and U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer mark the inaugural flight of the first commercial wide body aircraft to enter routine revenue service featuring Northrop Grumman's Guardian system in a ceremony at the Los Angeles International Airport.

For more information, contact Northrop Grumman.