The Polish Ministry of Defence has ordered an unknown number of Elbit Systems' Directed IR Countermeasures (DIRCM) MUSIC solution, which protects aircraft against shoulder-launched missiles, according to a Polish source.

Elbit Systems declined to comment. However,  according to the source, a deal between the two sides was agreed in recent weeks after negotiations commenced earlier this year.

The source said it is likely that the MUSIC system will be carried on the Boeing 737-800, which the Polish government purchased to serve as VIP transport, mainly for the Polish president.

Last year, in a $46 million follow-on contract, NATO decided to equip additional Airbus A330 tankers with Elbit Systems' J-Music system, along with its Infrared-based Passive Airborne Warning System (PAWS IR).

J- MUSIC, which is designed for the protection of large aircraft, is a version of the Israeli company's MUSIC countermeasures family. Last year, Elbit Systems signed a $20 million deal to supply its MUSIC system to an unnamed African-based customer for a VIP Gulfstream G650 aircraft. The system is installed in a pod under the fore section of the aircraft fuselage.

Other customers of the system include the Italian Air Force, which uses it to protect the C27J, C130J and AW101 helicopter platforms and the Brazilian Air Force, which uses it on the KC-390 aircraft.

The MUSIC technology is based on a Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) for the missile's tracking and laser jamming to blind the missile's infrared seeker.