By Andy Choi
Northrop Grumman has tested the Airborne Infrared Sensor for the U.S. Ballistic Missile Defense System with the Integrated Sensor Manager.
The Integrated Sensor Manager (ISM) prototype of the company had completed the early intercept proof-of-concept exercise by participating as an associated operation in the Missile Defense Agency FTX-17 test in July.
The ISM is being developed by the company to make tracking and threat identification more accurate for intercepting a missile earlier in flight for the MDA. The improvements are needed of the Phased Adaptive Approach that will integrate incremental capabilities over several years to enhance defense against emerging ballistic missile threats. MDA's current operational concept envisions the ABIR platform and sensors forward in theatre for early detection and surveillance of a threat.
Kelley Zelickson, the vice president of air and missile defense systems for Northrop Grumman Information Systems, said that ABIR is a critical element for the PAA and our successful test shows we can command that sensor to generate actionable information to enable earlier intercept. It's a significant achievement to execute the ISM's first-time live cueing of an ABIR sensor to bring us closer to the desired Aegis launch-on-remote capability.
Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide.