defenceWeb
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Egypt has requested the sale of a Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) system for head-of-state aircraft and Sniper targeting pods from the United States in two deals worth a combined $170 million.
The US State Department approved the possible foreign military sale of the Northrop Grumman LAIRCM system on 29 December for an estimated cost of $104 million. The AN/AAQ-24 system will be used on an Airbus A340-200 aircraft.
Each LAIRCM system consists of three Guardian Laser Turret Assemblies (GLTA), five Missile Warning Sensors (MWS) and other items. The system provides 360-degree protection against a wide range of missile threats. When it detects a missile launch, it tracks the incoming missile and uses a laser beam to jam the missile’s guidance system. The system is contained almost entirely in a single pod that mounts to the underside of the fuselage and can be moved easily from one aircraft to another.