Leonardo has been contracted to provide its Miysis Directed Infrared Countermeasure (DIRCM) for a Middle Eastern government customer’s new VVIP-configured Bombardier Global 7500 aircraft which is expected to enter service in 2022.

The award is the first of its kind for a government customer and follows the order of the Miysis DIRCM by the UK, Canada and three other NATO countries, as well as a number of non-NATO members. In UK service Miysis is installed on the Shadow R1 surveillance aircraft, while Canada uses the system for its CP-140 Aurora maritime patrol aircraft.

A Leonardo release on June 29 also stated that the system was “well-suited” for installation on other Bombardier aircraft in the Challenger and Global families.

The Miysis DIRCM will provide complete spherical protection for the aircraft, producing a laser energy countermeasure to defeat modern infrared-guided missile threats.

Leonardo stated that Miysis had been independently verified to have a 100% success rate, with UK and international customers having conducted “extensive analysis and live fire trials”.