Northrop Grumman has been contracted by the British Defense Ministry to support its laser-based aircraft protection systems integrated in British platforms.

U. S. Company Northrop Grumman received the follow-on award to continue the company's Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures support relationship which has lasted 15 years.

It has been reported that the British military has 11 aircraft platforms that use Northrop Grumman's LAIRCM, a technology designed to protect the aircraft by detecting enemy missiles then countering the threat with a laser-based system to track and defeat the missile.

Carl Smith, Northrop Grumman Land and Self Protection Systems Division Infrared Countermeasures vice president, said in a statement, "Today, we support up to 80 U. K. aircraft encompassing 11 different aircraft types and this latest award will allow us to efficiently maintain our in-country support depot ensuring faster, in-country customer service."

The report further noted that the contract is worth $152 million over three years. (With Inputs from Agencies)