# Large Aircraft IR Countermeasures (LAIRCM) — Program Element 0401134F

**Program element:** 0401134F  
**Component:** U.S. Air Force  
**Appropriation:** 3600 — RDT&E, Air Force  
**Budget Activity:** 7 — Operational System Development  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0401134F

## Summary

U.S. Air Force funding falls 70% to a $12.3M request in FY2027 (down from a FY2026 peak), with nothing planned by FY2031. In the FY2027 defense authorization, the House funded it in full; the Senate funded it in full; House appropriators funded it in full. Northrop Grumman leads the industry work.

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 7.5 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 41.0 |
| FY2027 | Request | 12.3 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 20.0 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 15.0 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 0.0 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 0.0 |

> Estimate types are not summed — the profile mixes actuals, enacted law, the request, and outyear projections.

## Congressional marks (FY2027)

| Stage | Marked ($M) | Change ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| Request | 12.3 | — |
| House NDAA (HASC) | 12.3 | +0.0 |
| Senate NDAA (SASC) | 12.3 | +0.0 |
| House Approps (HAC-D) | 12.3 | +0.0 |

> FY2027 NDAA authorization marks, as of 2026-07-27. Not appropriations or final law.

## Projects (3)

| Project | Title | FY2025 actual | FY2026 enacted | FY2027 request | Move |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 67A038 | Active Defense Sensor | 0.0 | 7.5 | 12.3 | +64% |
| 674942 | Large Aircraft Infrared Counter Measures (LAIRCM) | 7.5 | 31.7 | 0.0 | −100% |
| 67A037 | Latent Capability Development | 0.0 | 1.7 | 0.0 | −100% |

> Projects are the summable leaves: the program element total is their sum, never added to it.

### Project 67A038 — Active Defense Sensor

The Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) system is an evolutionary acquisition program that provides significantly improved defensive systems capability for DoD aircraft to counter the man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS) missile threat. The system is currently installed on 54 aircraft types and over 1,200 aircraft. The current LAIRCM system configuration consists of missile warning sensors (MWS), a laser transmitter assembly, control interface unit and processors to detect, track, jam and counter incoming missiles. The number of sensors and transmitter assemblies per aircraft is determined by the size and signature of the aircraft. The system is fully autonomous following system power-up. LAIRCM requirements are documented in the multi-command LAIRCM Operational Requirements Document (ORD) 314-92, validated on 03 Aug 1998. The Active Defense Sensor (ADS) will provide sensing and cueing of threats, which is anticipated to employ a version of a long-range Radio Frequency (RF) defense sensor to provide long range sensing and cueing of threats. ADS will enhance existing High Value Airborne Asset survivability to detect and employ new tactics against an expanded category of threats. Anticipated efforts include, but are not limited to hardware and software upgrade, development, and integration; prototyping; testing of the sensor as it integrates into a modular system of systems approach to maintain defensive capability against new and emerging threats. In FY 2027, the Hostile Fire Indication/Laser Warning (HFI/LW) efforts were transferred from Project 674942, LAIRCM to Project 67A038, Active Defense Sensor to continue the development of capabilities for the LAIRCM system. ADS continues development of the Multi Threat Mid-Wave (MW) Infrared (IR) Sensor, a new MWS for the LAIRCM system. The Multi-Threat MW IR sensor will increase the effectiveness of the LAIRCM system by providing aircrews with enhanced detection capabilities against small arms fire, rocket-propelled grenades, anti-aircraft fire, and laser-guided munitions. This program element included all necessary expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program elements 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605833F, and 0605898F.

**Named R-3 performers** (share of this project's FY2027 R-3 total, so they need not reach 100%)**:** Northrop Grumman (12.3, 100%).

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Defense Sensor | — | 7.5 | — |
| Multi-Threat Mid-Wave (MW) IR Sensor | — | — | 12.3 |

> R-2A activities carry the prior, current and budget year only — no five-year plan. Coverage is partial, so count them, never total them.

### Project 674942 — Large Aircraft Infrared Counter Measures (LAIRCM)

The Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) system is an evolutionary acquisition program that provides significantly improved defensive systems capability for DoD aircraft to counter the man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS) missile threat. The system is currently installed on 54 aircraft types and over 1,200 aircraft. The current LAIRCM system configuration consists of missile warning sensors (MWS), a laser transmitter assembly, control interface unit and processors to detect, track, jam and counter incoming missiles. The number of sensors and transmitter assemblies per aircraft is determined by the size and signature of the aircraft. The system is fully autonomous following system power-up. LAIRCM requirements are documented in the multi-command Operational Requirements Document (ORD) LAIRCM ORD 314-92, validated on 03 Aug 1998. The baseline development program is complete. Follow-on efforts continue Evolving Threat Analysis in order to address and counter new and emerging threats, as well as ensure integration onto new aircraft types and existing LAIRCM platforms. Additional efforts include design changes to improve reliability, maintainability, & availability and system improvements with form, fit, function and interface compliant replacements. LAIRCM upgrades include but are not limited to hardware and software upgrades, as well as testing of the LAIRCM system to maintain defensive capability against new and emerging threats. Current and future efforts include AFRL Threat Analysis; Modeling, Simulation and Test; Virtual System Integration Lab (SIL) Development; and Studies and Analysis. AFRL Threat Analysis encompasses the activities to support threat exploitation analysis of a variety of threats (both known and emerging) against the current LAIRCM jam code with the intent of determining if jam code updates are required. Typical threat analysis activities include: threat seeker characterization; model development for advanced threat IR seekers; development and testing of new infrared countermeasures concepts, techniques, and hardware; new technology assessment for potential incorporation into the LAIRCM system, and the evaluation/ exploitation of new threats and threat characteristics relative to infrared countermeasures (IRCM).

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAIRCM AFRL Threat Analysis | 6.0 | 26.0 | 0.0 |
| LAIRCM, Modeling, Simulation, and Test | 1.5 | 4.2 | 0.0 |
| Capability Upgrade | — | 1.5 | 0.0 |

> R-2A activities carry the prior, current and budget year only — no five-year plan. Coverage is partial, so count them, never total them.

### Project 67A037 — Latent Capability Development

Latent Capability Development (LCD) develops the Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) system's ability to detect and defeat a distinct new category of lethal threats and includes updates to the latest modeling and simulation threat models. It provides all support required to update the LAIRCM system hardware, firmware, and software. Development begins at the AFRL Dynamic Infrared Missile Evaluation (DIME) Lab with support testing of code at the Guided Weapons Evaluation Facility (GWEF) before finally transitioning to Northrop Grumman Corporation (NGC) for inclusion into the LAIRCM software baseline. The LAIRCM system is an evolutionary acquisition program that provides significantly improved defensive systems capability for aircraft to counter the man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS) missile threat. The system is installed on 54 aircraft variants and over 1200 aircraft. In FY 2027, LCD efforts transferred to PE 0401334F, Large Aircraft Survivability Systems (LASS), Project 67A038, Advanced Sensors, as the Advanced Capability Development (ACD) major thrust. Program support cost efforts consist of, but are not limited to, contract services and government costs. This program element included all necessary expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program elements 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605833F, and 0605898F.

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Latent Capability Development | 0.0 | 1.7 | — |

> R-2A activities carry the prior, current and budget year only — no five-year plan. Coverage is partial, so count them, never total them.

## Where the FY2027 request goes

| Category | Share | $M |
|---|---|---|
| Industry primes | 100% | 12.3 |

**Top named industry performers:** Northrop Grumman ($12.3M, 100%).

> R-3 exhibit contract funding, not USAspending obligations.

## Mission & acquisition strategy

The Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) system is an evolutionary acquisition program designed to provide significantly improved defensive systems capability for Department of War (DoW) aircraft to counter the man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS) and other surface-to-air Infrared (IR) missile threats. It is now being upgraded with new detection capabilities to provide aircrew with awareness of laser warning, small arms fire, rocket-propelled grenades, anti-aircraft fire, and laser guided munitions, with new sensors entering production in FY 2029.

Efforts awarded on an annual basis, exercising existing contract options, funding government led threat analysis, and system effectiveness studies. The LAIRCM program office partners with the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), the 46th Test Squadron, and the Guided Weapon Evaluation Facility (GWEF) to conduct threat analysis research and Modeling, Simulation, and Test. AFRL provides hardware-in-the-loop developmental test simulation capability on a level-of-effort (LOE) basis. The current LAIRCM Annual Lot Buy contract may be used to award multiple various study efforts, and AFLCMC/HB has additional open contracts that enable rapid award of new efforts.

## Related program elements

- [0605049A — Missile Warning System Modernization (MWSM)](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0605049A) (Army)
- [0604329N — Small Diameter Bomb (SDB)](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604329N) (Navy)
- [0605520M — Marine CORPS AIR Defense Weapons SYS](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0605520M) (Navy)
- [1206862SF — Tactically Responsive Space (TacRS)](https://hitchintel.com/programs/1206862SF) (Space Force)

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Air Force RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-3, PE 0401134F (PB PB2027); FY2027 NDAA committee marks (as of 2026-07-27).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="0401134F")`.

*HitchAI is an independent intelligence service, not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Defense. Budget figures are requests/estimates, not obligations.*