Northrop Grumman to Supply CIRCM for German CH-47F Chinooks
By Richard Scott
Northrop Grumman’s OT-228/U Common Infrared Countermeasures (CIRCM) system is to equip new Boeing CH-47F Chinook Block II helicopters ordered by Germany.
The company will supply a total of 47 CIRCM systems to Germany as part of a US Army production award. CIRCM is a next-generation lightweight, laser-based, directed IR countermeasures system providing near spherical coverage of the host platform to defeat infrared-seeking threat missiles.
Boeing was in November 2025 awarded an $876 million Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contract for the production of 60 CH-47F Block II helicopters for Germany. The aircraft, due for delivery from 2027, will replace CH-53G helicopters currently used for heavy vertical lift.
CIRCM, as a US Army program of record, is providing Army Aviation with a next-generation directed IR countermeasures system to protect rotorcraft from IR-guided missiles, especially IR man-portable air defense system (MANPADS) threats. Almost 700 CIRCM systems have been installed to date, amassing more than 70,000 operational flight hours on AH-64, CH-47 and UH-60 helicopters.
Germany is the second international Chinook customer to procure CIRCM. The UK in July 2024 signed an FMS case for CIRCM to equip new MH-47G Block II helicopters.
