Elbit to support anti-missile systems for NATO A330 tanker fleet
The NSPA-dedicated centre will also provide repair, spare parts and maintenance services. (Photo: NATO)
Elbit Systems has signed a five-year in-service support contract with the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) for the direct infrared countermeasures (DIRCM) systems fitted to the alliance's A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport Capability (MRTT-C) fleet.
The contract, announced on 24 January, includes establishing a service centre at NSPA to provide support and logistics for the system.
The DIRCM can protect larger military aircraft against attacks from infrared-guided missiles.
‘Demand for our DIRCM systems is growing due to increased threats posed to aircraft. We are proud to provide NATO with a logistics and service centre for local repair and maintenance of our systems,’ Oren Sabag, GM of Elbit Systems ISTAR & EW, noted in a statement.
The NSPA-dedicated facility, located in Luxembourg, will be an essential resource for the DIRCM-equipped A330 MRTT fleet, providing necessary expertise, equipment and maintenance, Elbit said.
The centre will also provide repair, spare parts and maintenance services.
Additionally, Elbit was awarded a follow-up contract from NSPA for an additional J-MUSIC system, part of the MUSIC DIRCM family.
The laser-based fully autonomous system is said to provide protection against advanced heat-seeking surface-to-air missiles.
Seven systems are already integrated, certified and operational on NATO MRTTs.
More from Air Warfare
-
Malaysian Army leases Black Hawk helicopters
Malaysia is leasing a quartet of Black Hawks, giving the army its first taste of operating the American-built helicopter.
-
Bangladesh Army seeks family of UAVs
The Bangladesh Army is seeking some commonality in a family of new UAVs that will serve for the next 15 years.
-
Boeing kicks off US Air Force B-52 bomber radar upgrade
The radar upgrade is part of the wider B-52 modernisation programme that aims to keep the Stratofortress in the air until 2050 and beyond.
-
CAE delivers first magnetic anomaly detectors for Japanese maritime patrol aircraft fleet
CAE has delivered the first MAD-XR magnetic anomaly detectors for installation in new P-1 maritime patrol aircraft operated by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.
-
Why the F-16 fighter jet remains a force to be reckoned with
The Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter jet is still in the limelight over 40 years after its first flight. Shephard sums up the latest developments and tells you everything you need to know about the aircraft in the 2020s.