The U.S. Department of Defense has approved BAE Systems’ advanced threat infrared countermeasures (Atircm) system for export, the manufacturer announced. BAE and the U.S. Army developed the system to protect Army helicopters against shoulder-fired missiles.

The Atircm system, designated AN/ALQ-212, uses makes use of BAE’s common missile warning system for fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft to detect incoming missiles and communicate the missile’s position relative to the aircraft. Atirccm then locates and tracks the incoming threat and emits a high-energy laser to defeat the missile’s infrared seeker, blinding its guidance system.

The U.S. Army has deployed the system on helicopters serving in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2009.

“In today’s environment with the proliferation of surface-to-air missiles, a proven aircraft survivability system to counter advanced threats meets an immediate need,” said Bill Staib, BAE Systems director of threat management solutions. “We are seeing tremendous international interest for this system, which has provedn to be both highly effective and reliable since it’s fielding in 2009.”