US approves foreign military sale of LAIRCM line replaceable Units to Australia.

The US State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Australia of LAIRCM Line Replaceable Units (LRUs) and related equipment for an estimated cost of $122 million.

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The proposed sale will improve Australia’s capability to meet current and future threats by providing modern protection for large air mobility platforms. These countermeasures are crucial to defeating modern threats (Picture source: Northrop Grumman)

The Government of Australia has requested the possible sale of AN/AAQ 24(V)N Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) component systems required to support an ongoing upgrade of its large Air Mobility Platforms, which include C-17As, KC-30As, and C-130Js. As such, the Government of Australia has requested to buy twenty-seven (27) AN/AAQ 24(V)N Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) System Processor Replacements (LSPR) (27 installed, 0 spares); and thirty (30) Guardian Laser Turret Assemblies (GLTA) (30 installed, 0 spares). Also included are LAIRCM Control Indicator Unit Replacements (CIURs); Advanced Threat Missile Warning Sensors (ATWs); Smart Card Assemblies (SCAs); High Capacity Cards/User Data Memory Cards (HCCs/UDMs) (installed and spares); Simple Key Loaders; initial spares, consumables, and repair/return support; support and test equipment; integration and test support; personnel training, publications and technical documentation; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistical and program support. The estimated total value is $122 million.

This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States. Australia is one of US most important allies in the Western Pacific. The strategic location of this political and economic power contributes significantly to ensuring peace and economic stability in the region. It is vital to the U.S. national interest to assist their ally in developing and maintaining a strong and ready self-defense capability.

The proposed sale will improve Australia’s capability to meet current and future threats by providing modern protection for large air mobility platforms. These countermeasures are crucial to defeating modern threats. Australia will have no difficulty absorbing these articles into its armed forces.

The principal contractors will be Northrup Grumman Corporation, Rolling Meadows, IL; and The Boeing Company, Long Beach, CA, and San Antonio, TX. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.

Implementation of this proposed sale will require the assignment of 0.5 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) additional U.S. Government representatives and 0.5 FTE U.S. contractor representatives to support Australia from the U.S. for a duration of five (5) years to support program management and engineering activities necessary to field and sustain LAIRCM on multiple Royal Australian Air Force platforms.