U.S. Army Awards Northrop Grumman $4.84B CIRCM Deal to Protect Helicopters From Infrared Missiles.

The US Army awarded Northrop Grumman a $4.838 billion contract to sustain full-rate production of the CIRCM laser-based missile defense system through 2035. The agreement secures long-term protection for Army helicopters against infrared-guided missiles while supporting fleet expansion and future system upgrades.

CIRCM is fielded on AH-64 Apache, UH-60 Black Hawk, and CH-47 Chinook helicopters, using automated tracking and modulated laser energy to disrupt the seekers of incoming infrared-guided missiles. The production framework will support additional aircraft installations, replacement of heavier legacy countermeasures, and continued adaptation as missile seekers become more resistant to existing defensive techniques.

Related News: UK Strengthens Chinook Fleet’s Protection with Northrop Grumman’s Next-Gen Infrared Countermeasure

U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook equipped with the CIRCM directional infrared countermeasure system developed by Northrop Grumman. The inset shows the system’s pointer and tracker assembly. (Picture source: US DoD)

The contract is intended to sustain CIRCM production through September 30, 2035, giving the US Army a long-term industrial framework to equip additional aircraft, gradually replace heavier legacy systems, and support equipment already in service. Northrop Grumman states that more than 750 CIRCM shipsets have been delivered, while the system has accumulated more than 75,000 operational flight hours on Apache, Chinook, and Black Hawk helicopters. Integration is also planned for the Future Long Range Assault Aircraft.

According to a contract notice published by the US Department of War on September 8, 2026, Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. received a firm-fixed-price indefinite-delivery indefinite-quantity contract with a ceiling of $4,838,487,318 for full-rate CIRCM production. Army Contracting Command at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is managing the agreement under contract W58RGZ-26-D-0056. Work locations and funding will be determined as individual orders are placed, meaning that the entire contract ceiling is not obligated at once.

CIRCM is a directional infrared countermeasure system. It does not independently detect missile launches, but instead receives threat information from warning sensors installed on the aircraft, including the Common Missile Warning System, Limited Interim Missile Warning System, or Advanced Threat Warner. Once the threat has been located, a pointer and tracker assembly is directed toward the incoming missile, acquires it, and projects modulated laser energy toward the infrared seeker in order to disrupt its operation and break its ability to track the aircraft.

In its current configuration, CIRCM includes two pointer-tracker units, two lasers, and one system processing unit. Northrop Grumman uses quantum cascade laser technology combined with a lightweight processor, with the architecture designed to limit weight, volume and electrical power requirements on aircraft. These constraints are particularly relevant for helicopters, where additional equipment can affect payload, endurance and performance in hot or high-altitude conditions.

This approach distinguishes CIRCM from the Advanced Threat Infrared Countermeasure, whose weight and power demands largely limited its deployment to the CH-47F. CIRCM is designed for broader integration across helicopters, tiltrotor aircraft, and some light fixed-wing platforms. Its open architecture is also intended to allow new software or components to be introduced as hostile infrared seekers evolve, without requiring replacement of the entire aircraft self-protection suite.

CIRCM is particularly relevant when aircraft operate at low altitude inside the engagement envelope of portable missile systems. When a warning sensor detects a launch, the tracking and jamming sequence is carried out automatically, reducing crew workload during situations in which reaction time may be limited. This is especially applicable during air assault, medical evacuation, tactical transport or resupply missions, where approach routes, low speeds and terrain can increase helicopter exposure. CIRCM also operates alongside missile warning systems and expendable flares, forming part of a layered defensive architecture rather than functioning as a stand-alone measure.

The contract also provides a framework for adaptation over time. Modern infrared seekers are progressively incorporating improved flare discrimination and greater resistance to countermeasures. Maintaining a production line and an upgradeable architecture through 2035 therefore allows the US Army to modify software, jamming techniques, and selected components as the threat environment changes, while limiting extended interruptions in system availability.

From a geopolitical perspective, the decision reflects continued US attention to helicopter survivability as portable missiles and short-range air defense systems remain widely distributed. Their mobility, relatively low cost, and ability to threaten aircraft at altitudes commonly used for tactical missions make them a persistent consideration for Western armed forces. Sustaining US production through 2035 also preserves options for allied procurement and Foreign Military Sales. In Europe, the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific, CIRCM is therefore part of a broader shift toward aircraft self-protection architectures designed to remain effective against a growing range of infrared-guided threats.

Written By Erwan Halna du Fretay - Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Erwan Halna du Fretay holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and has experience studying conflicts and global arms transfers. His research interests lie in Security and strategic studies, particularly the dynamics of the defense industry, the evolution of military technologies, and the strategic transformation of armed forces.