Elbit Systems Awarded $260 Million Contract to Supply DIRCM Self-Protection Systems for Germany’s A400M Aircraft Fleet
Haifa, Israel. Elbit Systems Ltd announced on July 28 that, it was awarded a contract worth approximately $260 million by Airbus Defence and Space (“Airbus DS”) to supply its J-MUSIC™ Directed Infrared Counter Measures (DIRCM) self-protection systems, for installation on the German Air Force A400M transport aircraft. The contract, to be executed over a 6-year period, follows a procurement decision by the Federal Office for Equipment, Information Technology and Operations of the Bundeswehr (BAAINBw).
The J-MUSIC™ DIRCM system is part of Elbit Systems’ MUSIC™ family of airborne self-protection solutions, designed to defend aircraft against infrared-guided missile threats, particularly those launched from man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS). The integration of advanced laser technology with high-performance imaging systems, enables the system to detect, track, and disrupt incoming missile threats in real time, providing autonomous protection without requiring crew intervention. The system is characterized by its modular and scalable architecture, allowing for integration with a wide range of aircraft platforms and missile warning systems. Its compact form factor ensures minimal impact on aircraft performance and payload capacity.
Elbit Systems’ DIRCM solutions have been deployed operationally on a wide range of military and commercial aircraft globally. Customers include governments, air forces and defense ministries from countries such as Israel, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and Brazil. The system has also been selected by several leading aircraft manufacturers (OEMs) as their preferred DIRCM solution for integration into new and retrofit platforms.
Bezhalel (Butzi) Machlis, President and CEO of Elbit Systems: “This contract further strengthens Elbit Systems’ position as a leading global provider of DIRCM solutions. Our systems are already trusted by numerous air forces and defense organizations around the world, and we are proud to support Germany in enhancing the protection of their strategic air assets. Our successful collaboration with Airbus DS on this important program is highly valued, and we are pleased that our advanced self-protection systems will contribute to the safety and operational readiness of the German A400M fleet.”
