Northrop Grumman announced on Friday that the company will provide the U.S. Air Force with its high-performance MJU-73/B and MJU-62A/B infrared countermeasure flares under a potential five-year, $61.8 million indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract. 

“These newly developed countermeasure flares simulate an aircraft’s heat signature to divert infrared missiles away from the vehicle and decrease the odds of being struck,” said Charlie Precourt, vice president of Propulsion Systems for Northrop Grumman. 

The company’s next-generation countermeasures will help protect large aircraft and helicopters from advanced surface-to-air and air-to-air missiles. The company will develop cutting-edge, first-fire application technology to support flare ignition while increasing safety during the manufacturing process.

“Our team is delivering this capability for our customer through our innovative technology, and digital and agile processes that were used during different points of program lifecycles,” Precourt added. 

The MJU-73/B and MJU-62A/B infrared countermeasure flares build upon a more than 50+ year history of protecting aircrews, and will serve as an integral component of the suite of protective measures used by the military to increase aircraft survivability.

Maj. Gen. Gregory Masiello, program executive officer for air anti-submarine warfare, assault and special mission programs at Naval Air Systems Command, said during the 2021 Sea-Air-Space Expo that the Navy will deploy a new variant of the Osprey tiltrotor aircraft onboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson soon. 

Masiello noted in his presentation at the event the CMV-22B platform would replace the U.S. Navy's C-2 Greyhound cargo aircraft platform, NAVAIR said Friday. 

He also reported that H-60 utility helicopter program has added three customers through the foreign military sales program over the past year.

At the same event, Capt. Pete Arrobio, program manager for E-2 /C-2 airborne command and control systems, said that his office will prioritize the deployment and sustainment of “mission-capable” E-2D early warning aircraft.

Arrobio said the program office aims to field 22 MC E-2Ds and sustain 28 MC E-2Ds using the Naval Sustainment System-Aviation approach.

Twenty-six Silicon Valley Innovation Program-backed startups will demonstrate how their technology projects could support the Department of Homeland Security’s missions during a three-day event hosted by the DHS Science and Technology Directorate.

The virtual demonstration series starting on Sept. 14 will provide SVIP-funded startups with opportunities to showcase technologies in support of DHS components and the global innovation community, the agency said Thursday.

“Participants will see how SVIP startup performers have incorporated DHS requirements into their commercial products, expanding their capabilities and providing DHS operational components access to innovative commercial products that address their most critical mission needs,” shared Melissa Oh, managing director of SVIP.

The event will also feature a panel discussion with government and industry experts. They will tackle industry trends, COVID-19 response and mitigation, and best practices in artificial intelligence, aviation and interoperability.

SVIP was initiated to expand DHS S&T’s reach and enable it to work with innovation communities to identify new technologies meant to enhance national security.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has tapped two industry partners to help in the next phase of the Science and Technology (DHS S&T) Directorate’s Wildland Fire Sensors initiative that will focus on sensor performance testing and evaluation. 

Under the Wildland Fire Sensor Research Program, Breeze Technologies and N5 Sensors will work on hardening the sensors, which will be used for longer-term deployments and early alerting capabilities, the DHS said Wednesday. 

“Both companies show great potential for operational deployment and dual-purpose wildfire detection and air quality monitoring capabilities,” said Jeff Booth, director of S&T’s Sensors and Platforms Technology Center.

The DHS said S&T conducted in June the sensors’ field testing aimed at demonstrating that sensor technologies can be a significant tool for first responders and the public. 

The two companies will perform several planned improvements that include detection algorithms enhancement, communication optimization and user interface development.