Elbit gains countermeasure contract for UAE's A330 MRT

Elbit countermeasures are to feature on multi-role tankers flown by the UAE Air Force, amid growing demand for self-protection capabilities against the threat that aircraft face from shoulder fired anti-aircraft missiles.

Elbit Systems' subsidiary in the United Arab Emirates, Elbit Systems Emirates Limited has been awarded an approximately $53 million contract to supply Direct Infrared Countermeasures (DIRCM) and airborne Electronic Warfare (EW) systems for the Airbus A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft of the UAE Air Force.

The contract will be performed over a five-year period. Elbit will deliver a multi-turret configuration of the J-MUSIC Self-Protection System together with the company’s Infra-Red-based Passive Airborne Warning System, providing high levels of protection and redundancy. The company’s DIRCM systems have accumulated more than 350,000 operational flight hours to date, and are installed onboard more than 25 types of aircraft. The company is witnessing a growing demand for this type of self-protection capabilities in light of the rising threat that aircraft face from shoulder fired anti-aircraft missiles.

Elbit Systems announced the establishment of Elbit Systems Emirates during the Dubai Airshow in November 2021.

Its DIRCM and Electronic Warfare Self Protection Systems are installed onboard more than 25 aircraft types and selected by a arrange of customers including Germany’s A400 aircraft and CH-53 helicopter, NATO’s MRTT A330 fleet, Portugal’s KC390 aircraft, all of the Israeli commercial aircraft airliners’ fleets and Heads of State and VIP customers.