ITT Completes Integrated Airborne Testing of IRCM System

(White Plains, N.Y., October 14, 2008) -- ITT Corporation (NYSE: ITT) conducted successful airborne testing of its Infrared Countermeasures (IRCM) system in flight trials during two weeks in September.

IRCM systems protect aircraft from heat seeking missiles by jamming the missile's infrared guidance system.


The system developed by ITT's Electronic Systems business unit was integrated with an infrared missile warning system (IRMWS) aboard a UH-60 Blackhawk. Tests were conducted at Naval Air Engineering Station, Lakehurst, N.J., and sponsored by the U.S. Army's Communications and Electronics Command (CECOM), Fort Monmouth, N.J. During the tests, the helicopter was flown at ranges from 700 to 4,000 meters. Nominal aircraft speed was 75 knots, with several test requiring evasive banking maneuvers at up to 60-degrees roll.

ITT's IRCM system demonstrated threat detection, hand off of threat to a pointer tracker, tracking of the threat by the pointer tracker, and application of the countermeasure laser against the threat. An infrared missile simulator, designed by SciTec, Inc. Princeton, N.J., was used as a target to stimulate the infrared missile warning system.

"We are pleased to complete this IRCM milestone," said ITT Electronic Systems President Chris Bernhardt. "This system will offer a low cost, light weight, high reliability alternative to protect our armed forces in hazardous areas."

Source : ITT Corporation (NYSE: ITT)