Support Equipment

Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM)

Also known as

LAIRCM
AN/AAQ-24
AN/AAQ-24(V)
AN/AAQ-24(V) DIRCM

Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM), also designated AN/AAQ-24(V), is Northrop Grumman's laser-based directional infrared countermeasure suite for protecting aircraft from infrared-guided missiles and MANPADS. Northrop says the family protects more than 1,500 aircraft across 85+ types and uses modular transmitters, jammers, and missile-warning sensors.

Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM), Infrared countermeasure defensive suite, Support Equipment

Image source: LAIRCM hero image | Northrop Grumman

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin: United States
Built by: Northrop Grumman
Type: Infrared countermeasure defensive suite
Unit cost: $650K per Group A kit; $3.00M per Group B kit

electronic warfare air defense infrared MANPADS

Specifications

System type: Laser-based directional infrared countermeasure suite
Protection: Designed to defeat infrared-guided missiles without pyrotechnic expendables
Deployment: Protects more than 1,500 aircraft across 85+ aircraft types
Installation: Uses a modular family of transmitters, jammers, and missile-warning sensors
Coverage: Fits large and small fixed-wing, rotary-wing, tilt-rotor, VIP, and UAV platforms

Carrier Aircraft

The EC-130J Commando Solo article says the aircraft are equipped with LAIRCM for self-protection against MANPAD threats.

Carrier

Carrier type

Carriage evidence

EC-130J Commando Solo, Airborne information operations and psychological operations aircraft, Aircraft & UAVs

EC-130J Commando Solo

Broadcast aircraft

The EC-130J article says the aircraft are equipped with LAIRCM for self-protection against MANPAD threats.

Sources: EC-130J Commando Solo/Super J | Air & Space Forces Magazine

Media

Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) Videos

Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM)

Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) Images

Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM), Infrared countermeasure defensive suite, Support Equipment - view 1 — Source: LAIRCM common infrared countermeasures image | Northrop Grumman

Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM), Infrared countermeasure defensive suite, Support Equipment - view 2 — Source: LAIRCM laser aperture image | Northrop Grumman

Related Weapon Systems

IRST21 Sensor System, Passive long-wave infrared search-and-track sensor system, Support Equipment

Support EquipmentIRST21 Sensor SystemPassive long-wave infrared search-and-track sensor systemIRST21 Sensor System is Lockheed Martin's passive long-wave infrared search-and-track package for modern fighter aircraft. It detects and tracks airborne threats without emitting radar, appears in the F/A-18E/F's centerline fuel tank installation, and is also packaged in the modular Legion Pod for other fighter and non-fighter aircraft.

9K333 Verba, Man-portable air-defense system (MANPADS), Air Defense

Air Defense9K333 VerbaMan-portable air-defense system (MANPADS)The 9K333 Verba is a Russian shoulder-fired very-short-range air-defense system built around the 9M336 missile, 9P333 launch tube, and a passive three-spectral thermal seeker. Designed by KB Mashinostroyeniya for aircraft, helicopters, UAVs, and cruise missiles in heavy optical-interference conditions, it gives Russian small units a portable fire-and-forget air-defense weapon and can also be used with support launchers or mobile short-range air-defense vehicles.

9M32 Strela-2 / SA-7 MANPADS, Man-portable surface-to-air missile system, Air Defense

Air Defense9M32 Strela-2 / SA-7 MANPADSMan-portable surface-to-air missile systemThe 9M32 Strela-2, NATO SA-7 Grail, is a Soviet infrared-guided MANPADS documented in multiple recent conflicts, including Hamas use against Israeli aircraft and reported GNA-side firing during Libya's 2019 Tripoli air-defense fighting.

AN/TWQ-1 Avenger, Self-propelled short-range air defense system, Air Defense

Air DefenseAN/TWQ-1 AvengerSelf-propelled short-range air defense systemThe AN/TWQ-1 Avenger is a Boeing-developed short-range air defense system that mounts a stabilized turret with Stinger missile pods and an M3P .50 caliber machine gun on a HMMWV chassis. In Ukrainian service it adds a mobile, point-defense layer against drones, helicopters, low-flying aircraft, and cruise-missile threats during the Russia-Ukraine War.

Decoy drones, Reusable aerial target and decoy UAV, Aircraft & UAVs

Aircraft & UAVsDecoy dronesReusable aerial target and decoy UAVDecoy drones are reusable target UAVs used to imitate aircraft signatures, stimulate air-defense radars, and absorb or reveal enemy responses. In the 2025 India-Pakistan Conflict, public reporting identified Indian use of Banshee and Lakshya-type drones during Operation Sindoor as deception assets rather than strike weapons.

FASTA-4M, East German quad launcher for Strela-2/Strela-3 missiles, Air Defense

Air DefenseFASTA-4MEast German quad launcher for Strela-2/Strela-3 missilesFASTA-4M was East Germany's four-barrel Fliegerabwehr-Startanlage for Strela-2-family missiles, developed and produced at IWP Pinnow and fielded on ships, boats, and LO1800 vehicle mounts for short-range air defense.

Sources

Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) | Northrop GrummanPublisher: Northrop Grumman | Note: Supports the LAIRCM product background, manufacturer context, and the description of the AN/AAQ-24(V) system as a laser-based directional infrared countermeasure suite. | Accessed: 2026-06-27 LAIRCM Datasheet | Northrop GrummanPublisher: Northrop Grumman | Note: Supports the LAIRCM modular architecture, aircraft coverage, and directional infrared countermeasure description. | Accessed: 2026-06-27 AN/AAQ-24 LAIRCM information paper | Air National GuardPublisher: Air National Guard | Note: Supports the C-130 LAIRCM background and the reported Group A and Group B kit unit costs. | Accessed: 2026-06-27 LAIRCM hero image | Northrop GrummanPublisher: Northrop Grumman | Note: Supports the primary LAIRCM image. | Accessed: 2026-06-27 LAIRCM common infrared countermeasures image | Northrop GrummanPublisher: Northrop Grumman | Note: Supports a gallery image showing LAIRCM common infrared countermeasures hardware. | Accessed: 2026-06-27 LAIRCM laser aperture image | Northrop GrummanPublisher: Northrop Grumman | Note: Supports a gallery image showing a LAIRCM laser aperture. | Accessed: 2026-06-27 EC-130J Commando Solo/Super J | Air & Space Forces MagazinePublisher: Air & Space Forces Magazine | Note: Supports the EC-130J article statement that the aircraft are equipped with LAIRCM for self-protection against MANPAD threats. | Accessed: 2026-06-27