Elbit Systems Wins Contract for Asia-Pacific Military Helicopter Modernisation

Elbit Systems Ltd. has secured a series of contracts valued at approximately $275 million to equip a military helicopter platform operated by an Asia-Pacific country with an integrated airborne self-protection solution. The award, scheduled for execution over a five-year period, positions Elbit Systems’ electronic warfare (EW) and Directed Infra-Red Counter-Measure (DIRCM) technologies as critical enablers of helicopter survivability in high-threat environments.

Integrated Airborne Self-Protection for Rotary-Wing Assets
Under the scope of the contracts, Elbit Systems will deliver a comprehensive EW suite tailored to the customer’s specific helicopter platform and operational requirements. The solution merges advanced electronic sensing, real-time signal processing, threat identification, and automated countermeasure deployment to detect and respond to a broad range of aerial threats, with a particular emphasis on missile engagements.

Central to this offering is Elbit’s Mini-MUSIC™ DIRCM system, a compact laser-based defensive subsystem engineered to disrupt the seeker heads of incoming infrared-guided missiles. Mini-MUSIC leverages precision tracking and directed energy to engage threats before they can impact the aircraft, and its modular design supports installation on both rotary-wing and fixed-wing platforms. The system’s performance has been validated through extensive operational flight hours across multiple combat theaters.

Differentiation and Operational Impact
Elbit’s integrated EW and DIRCM solution differentiates itself in the airborne self-protection domain through its combination of multi-spectral threat awareness, automated response mechanisms, and proven combat experience. Unlike basic countermeasure dispensers that release chaff or flares in isolation, this integrated suite combines early warning, precise threat classification, and active laser counter-engagement, reducing crew workload and enhancing mission continuity in contested airspace. The tailored configuration for this contract underscores adaptability to platform-specific mission profiles and threat environments.

The focus on helicopter survivability reflects a broader trend among regional air forces confronting increasingly sophisticated surface-to-air and man-portable air defense systems. The Asia-Pacific region’s complex security landscape elevates the importance of robust self-protection technologies that can sustain operational effectiveness under multi-vector threats.

Strategic Context and Industry Positioning
This award adds to Elbit Systems’ expanding portfolio of airborne self-protection contracts worldwide, including engagements with NATO and European customers. The company’s emphasis on integrated electronic warfare and laser-based defense positions its offerings as advanced alternatives to conventional self-protection suites, responding to evolving threat profiles and interoperability demands across global defense markets.

By combining automated EW capabilities with compact DIRCM technology, Elbit Systems reinforces its role as a provider of next-generation survivability solutions for military aviation platforms, particularly in regions where mission environments are defined by asymmetric and advanced surface-to-air threats.

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