DIRCM stuff

AN/AWW-14(V)

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US Army

CIRCM - planned for undisclosed platforms, near future

USAF
AN/AAQ-24(V) LAIRCM full scale deployment, large aircrafts
SHiELD pod for tactical aircrafts, tests

USN
TADIRCM II for tactical aircrafts, on tests
AN/AAQ-24(V) LAIRCM, large aircrafts, P-8A ect

SOCOM
AN/AAQ-24(V) LAIRCM on the C-130 family

USMC
AN/AAQ-24(V) LAIRCM on the C-130 family



rotor wing:

US Army

CIRCM (I want to know the JETDS identifier) for AH-64, UH-60, CH-47 platforms - in deploying
AN/AAQ-24(V) LAIRCM- limited, on the AH-64 and variants UH-60, CH-47F in Iraq/Syria, urgent requirements
AN/ALQ-212 ATIRCM - limited, only CH-47

USAF
AN/AAQ-45 DAIRCM on the Hawk family, deploy in progress
AN/AAQ-24(V) LAIRCM - V-22

USN
AN/AAQ-45 DAIRCM on the MH-60S/R, near future

USMC
AN/AAQ-45 DAIRCM - on the AH-1Z and UH-1Y, near future
AN/AAQ-24(V) LAIRCM - H-53 platform and V-22

SOCOM
AN/AAQ-45 DAIRCM for MH-6, on tests
AN/AAQ-45 DAIRCM on the Pave Hawks
AN/AAQ-24(V) LAIRCM - MH-47G, unclear prevalence
 
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DAIRCM for SOCOM

Provides a low Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) IRCM capability suitable for the A/MH-6 Mission Enhanced Little Bird with potential use on the MH-60 and MH-47 aircraft. The IRCM program will leverage the Department of Navy developed Distributed Aperture Infrared Countermeasure System by integrating and testing a complete lightweight IRCM systems to include a missile warning system and countermeasure capability. The IRCM program includes development of an infrared exhaust suppressor for the A/MH-6. The A/MH-6 is the only tactical aircraft in the SOF inventory without protection from infrared guided and other advanced Man Portable Air Defense missiles.

FY 2019 Plans: Continue qualification testing of missile warning and lightweight IRCM systems for the A/MH-6 aircraft.
FY 2020 Base Plans: Completes development and begins qualification testing of infrared exhaust suppressor for the A/MH-6 aircraft. Continues qualification testing of missile warning and lightweight IRCM systems.

https://comptroller.defense.gov/Por...on/pdfs/03_RDT_and_E/12_0400_SOCOM_PB2020.pdf
 
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USAF paid Sikorsky Aircraft to integrate AN/AAQ-45 DAIRCM into new CSAR HH-60W helicopters


and

DRS Advanced ISR LLC, Beavercreek, Ohio, has been awarded a $34,551,637 requirements contract for installation of the Distributed Aperture Infrared Countermeasures (DAIRCM) system on 30 HH-60G aircraft in support of Joint Urgent Operational Need Statement (JUONS).


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first photo CIRCM system on the fleet aircraft:

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The latest countermeasures designed to improve Army aircraft survivability were tested here by helicopter aircrews based out of Fort Hood, Texas.

Soldiers from the 3rd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment belonging to 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, with Fort Hood, Texas' 1st Cavalry Division deployed to Redstone Test Center to fly UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter equipped with Common Infrared Countermeasures (CIRCM).

 
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Very cool stuff. Surprised by seeming lack of interest in installing on AH-64 on big scale and on smaller jets, including strike ones. Seems quite opposite to russian efforts on that field.
 
I know it's there, but, as was written earlier, in quite limited numbers.
 
The US Army has awarded two separate contracts worth $724 million combines, to Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems to add Infrared Countermeasure Capabilities.

While Northrop won $481.6 million for CIRCM Quick Reaction Capability 3, BAE Systems was awarded $242.2 million for systems engineering, integration, logistics, and other technical support services for the OT-225 ATIRCM and the AN/AAR-57(V) Common Missile Warning System, the US Department of Defense said in a statement Wednesday.


ATIRCM still alive
 
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US+Army+Common+Infrared+Countermeasure+System+Ready+for+Production_1_07ec32b9-5cc0-4641-962a-7fd46341dbb8-prv.jpg


Common Infrared Countermeasure (CIRCM) - Program costs increased $1,629.9 (+53.4%) from $3,052.4 million to $4,682.3 million, due primarily to a quantity increase for

A-Kits from 3,373 to 3,642 (+269)
B-Kits from 1,076 to 1,781 (+705)


The system consists of a permanently installed A-Kit and a modular B-Kit.

The A-Kit contains wiring and harnesses that are installed on an aircraft in a process that can take several hundred hours.
The B-Kit, which weighs 85 pounds, contains a pointer/tracker unit, laser and system processor unit, and can be installed on an A-Kit equipped plane in a matter of hours
 
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from times when Raytheon was in business, too

Low Cost Infrared Countermeasures (IRCM) Aircraft Protection Systems Raytheon Missile Systems, 2005
Scorpion and Quiet Eyes presentation

 

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interesting paper about decades of neighbour programs

CIRCM & ADIRCM & JATAS & Future Fast Jet DIRCM
 

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"STRAFE (SHiELD Turret Research in Aero-Effects) (SHiELD is SelfProtect High Energy Laser Demonstrator) Advanced Technology Demonstration (ATD) program, for a laser-based self-defense IRCM system" has been discussed for awhile and needs to be on all future helios. One of the reasons current helicopters are not going to able to carry what they need to for the ranges and other capabilities they advertise.
 
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UK Ministry of Defence has contracted Leonardo and Thales to deliver an integrated Thales Elix-IR threat warner, the Leonardo DAS controller, the Leonardo Miysis DIRCM, and the Thales Vicon dispensing system for the 8 Raytheon Shadow R1 special mission aircrafts.

 
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BAE Systems unveiled its RAVEN directed infrared countermeasure (DIRCM) system, capable of defeating anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM) on 14 October. The system protects ground vehicles and their crews and improves mission effectiveness without the use of kinetic countermeasures.

"The RAVEN countermeasure system is part of a layered defence and is easily tailored to any vehicle, mission, or budget," commented Ryan Edwards, Business Development Manager for Soldier and Vehicle Electronics. "Our vehicle protection systems improve crews' situational awareness and survivability, regardless of their vehicle or the threats they face."

RAVEN is a rugged, reliable laser-based countermeasure designed to defeat a variety of guided missile threats. It is lightweight, modular, scalable and provides armoured forces with efficient vehicle protection in a small, cost-efficient package. It is specifically designed for capability growth to address future threats as they emerge.

Compliant with the US Army's Modular Active Protection System (MAPS) programme, RAVEN is designed to integrate directly with threat detection and countermeasure cueing systems, including BAE Systems' 360 Multifunction Vehicle Protection (MVP) Sensor, a long-wave infrared situational awareness and warning system that serves as the eyes of the company's integrated VPS suite. The 360 MVP Sensor can cue RAVEN to quickly and efficiently defeat threats and also provides 360° situational awareness for improved vehicle mobility, lethality and integral survivability. As part of a layered vehicle defence system, RAVEN complements kinetic countermeasure systems with a virtually unlimited number of shots.

Earlier this year, the US Army recommended the integration of RAVEN on a BRADLEY fighting vehicle for the MAPS Programme's Layered Active Protection Demonstration, which took place in September. The recommendation followed the Soft Kill Rodeo, a series of tests to determine which non-kinetic active protection system technology has the most potential.

BAE Systems' integrated VPS suite builds on the company's extensive experience developing aircraft survivability equipment. With decades of experience designing, delivering and sustaining electronic warfare systems, the company has a deep understanding of the evolving battlespace and the solutions the armed forces need to address emerging threats.

The company's vehicle protections systems are developed at its manufacturing centre of excellence in Austin, TX.

 
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Northrop Grumman has been awarded a delivery order for engineering support for the integration of the AN/AAQ-24 on multiple US Army aircraft. The engineering effort includes platform integration of modernised survivability equipment, maintainability, interface improvements and software to enable more effective use of the AN/AAR-61(V)1. Work will be complete in January 2021.


new missile warning system AN/AAR-61(V)1, platform - unknown
 
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Syria today
HH-60 equipped by LAIRCM

4 Northrop Grumman Advanced Threat Warner (ATW)
4 BAE Systems AN/AAR-57 Electro Optical Missile Sensor
4 Northrop Grumman AN/APR-39 Digital Radar Warning Receiver
4 UTC Aerospace Systems AN/AVR-2 Laser Detecting Set
2 Guardian Laser Turret Assembly (GLTA)

 
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CIRCM has multiple-shot defence capability

As part of the test, the CIRCM system was presented with engagements in both single- and multiple-shot scenarios while mounted on an aircraft hanging from an aerial cable

https://www.monch.com/mpg/news/ew-c...cm-completes-free-flight-missile-testing.html

A Jan. 13 Army notice states the service is looking for sources to produce "two lasers, two pointer trackers and one system processing unit and the associated software and firmware" for the B-Kit. The kits will be integrated with an installed A-Kit "on potentially all rotary wing and fixed wing aircraft," according to the notice.

https://insidedefense.com/insider/army-releases-circm-b-kit-rfi
 
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Leonardo DRS announced on 18 March that the USAF had for the first time used operationally an HH-60G fitted with the AN/AAQ-45(V) Distributed Aperture Infrared Countermeasure (DAIRCM) system fitted under a Joint Urgent Operational Needs Statement (JUONS).

 
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UK Ministry of Defence has contracted Leonardo and Thales to deliver an integrated Thales Elix-IR threat warner, the Leonardo DAS controller, the Leonardo Miysis DIRCM, and the Thales Vicon dispensing system for the 8 Raytheon Shadow R1 special mission aircrafts.


Very interesting thread, AN/AWW-14(V)! Do you have any reports on the reliability of the Miysis DIRCM like the one from your picture or this link? Can you also explain to a layman the purpose of the 'crypto' connector on the Mysis control panel? Is it used to load "definitions" of the threats?
 
Very interesting thread,

thanks

Do you have any reports on the reliability of the Miysis DIRCM like the one from your picture or this link?

not seen yet
there is a new presentation, mostly advertising

Miysis DIRCM: the smallest, lightest multi-head DIRCM system available today (2019)

Can you also explain to a layman the purpose of the 'crypto' connector on the Mysis control panel? Is it used to load "definitions" of the threats?

good guess
 
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Patent showing laser decoy system

The U.S. Navy has patented technology to create mid-air images to fool infrared and other sensors. This builds on many years of laser-plasma research and offers a game-changing method of protecting aircraft from heat-seeking missiles. It may also provide a clue about the source of some recent UFO sightings by military aircraft.

The U.S. developed the first Sidewinder heat-seeking missile back in the 1950’s, and the latest AIM-9X version is still in frontline service around the world. This type of sensor works so well because hot jet engines exhausts shine out like beacons in the infrared, making them easy targets. Pilots under attack can eject decoy flares to lure a missile away from the launch aircraft, but these only provide a few seconds protection. More recently laser infrared countermeasures have been fielded which dazzle the infrared seeker.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidh...forces-test-laser-gunship-for-covert-strikes/
A sufficiently intense laser pulse can ionize producing a burst of glowing plasma. The Laser Induced Plasma Effects program uses single plasma bursts as flash-bang stun grenades; a rapid series of such pluses can even be modulated to transmit a spoken message (video here). In 2011 Japanese company Burton Inc demonstrated a rudimentary system that created moving 3D images in mid-air with a series of rapidly-generated plasma dots (video here).

A more sophisticated approach uses an intense, ultra-short, self-focusing laser pulse to create a glowing filament or channel of plasma, an effect discovered in the 1990s. Known as laser-induced plasma filaments (LIPF) these can be created at some distance from the laser for tens or hundreds of meters. Because LIPFs conduct electricity, they have been investigated as a means of triggering lightning or creating a lightning gun.

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US Army 'lighting gun' experiment with laser-generated plasma channel

One of the interesting things about LIPFs is that with suitable tuning they can emit light of any wavelength: visible, infrared, ultraviolet or even terahertz waves. This technology underlies the Navy project, which uses LIPFs to create phantom images with infrared emissions to fool heat-seeking missiles.

The Navy declined to discuss the project, but the work is described in a 2018 patent: “wherein a laser source is mounted on the back of the air vehicle, and wherein the laser source is configured to create a laser-induced plasma, and wherein the laser-induced plasma acts as a decoy for an incoming threat to the air vehicle.”

The patent goes on to explain that the laser creates a series of mid-air plasma columns, which form a 2D or 3D image by a process of raster scanning, similar to the way old-style cathode ray TVs sets display a picture.

A single decoy halves the chances of an incoming missile picking the right target, but there is no reason to stop at one : “There can be multiple laser systems mounted on the back of the air vehicle with each laser system generating a ‘ghost image’ such that there would appear to be multiple air vehicles present.

Unlike flares, the LIPF decoy can be created instantly at any desired distance from the aircraft, and can be moved around at will. Equally importantly, moves with the aircraft, rather than dropping away rapidly like a flare, providing protection for as long as needed.

The aircraft carrying the laser projector could also project decoys to cover other targets: “The potential applications of this LIP flare/decoy can be expanded, such as using a helicopter deploying flares to protect a battleship, or using this method to cover and protect a whole battle-group of ships, a military base or an entire city.

The lead researcher in the patent is Alexandru Hening. A 2017 piece in the Navy’s own IT magazine says that Dr. Hening has been working on laser-induced plasma at Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific since 2012.

“If you have a very short pulse you can generate a filament, and in the air that can propagate for hundreds of meters, and maybe with the next generation of lasers you could produce a filament of even a mile,” Dr. Henning told the magazine, indicating that it should be possible to create phantoms at considerable distances.

Phantom aircraft that can move around at high speed and appear on thermal imagers may ring some bells. After months of debate, in April the Navy officially released infra-red videos of UFOs encountered by their pilots, although the Pentagon prefers to call them “unidentified aerial phenomena.” The objects in the videos appear to make sudden movements impossible for physical aircraft, rotate mid-air and zip along at phenomenal speed: all maneuvers which would be easy to reproduce with a phantom projected image.

It is unlikely the Pentagon would release videos of their own secret weapon in a bizarre double bluff. But other nations may have their own version. In the early 1990s the Russians claimed that they could produce glowing ‘plasmoids’ at high altitude using high-power microwave or laser beams; these were intended to disrupt the flight of ballistic missiles, an answer to the planned American ‘Star Wars’. Nothing came of the project, but the technology may have been refined for other applications in the subsequent decades.

Heat-seeking missiles will no doubt evolve ways to distinguish the plasma ghosts from real jets, leading to further refinement of the decoy technology, and so on. Whether humans also get smart enough to recognize such fakes remains to be seen.

 
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Elbit Systems Emirates has received a $53 million contract from the UAE Air Force (UAEAF) to supply directional IR countermeasure and airborne EW self-protection systems.

A multi-turret configuration of the J-MUSIC self-protection system plus the Elbit IR-based Passive Airborne Warning System (PAWS) will be installed aboard A330 Multirole Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft.

‘The contract will be performed over a five-year period,’ Elbit announced on 3 January. Three A330 MRTTs are already in service with the UAEAF and two more are on order from Airbus.

 
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Patent showing laser decoy system

The U.S. Navy has patented technology to create mid-air images to fool infrared and other sensors. This builds on many years of laser-plasma research and offers a game-changing method of protecting aircraft from heat-seeking missiles. It may also provide a clue about the source of some recent UFO sightings by military aircraft.

The U.S. developed the first Sidewinder heat-seeking missile back in the 1950’s, and the latest AIM-9X version is still in frontline service around the world. This type of sensor works so well because hot jet engines exhausts shine out like beacons in the infrared, making them easy targets. Pilots under attack can eject decoy flares to lure a missile away from the launch aircraft, but these only provide a few seconds protection. More recently laser infrared countermeasures have been fielded which dazzle the infrared seeker.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidh...forces-test-laser-gunship-for-covert-strikes/
A sufficiently intense laser pulse can ionize producing a burst of glowing plasma. The Laser Induced Plasma Effects program uses single plasma bursts as flash-bang stun grenades; a rapid series of such pluses can even be modulated to transmit a spoken message (video here). In 2011 Japanese company Burton Inc demonstrated a rudimentary system that created moving 3D images in mid-air with a series of rapidly-generated plasma dots (video here).

A more sophisticated approach uses an intense, ultra-short, self-focusing laser pulse to create a glowing filament or channel of plasma, an effect discovered in the 1990s. Known as laser-induced plasma filaments (LIPF) these can be created at some distance from the laser for tens or hundreds of meters. Because LIPFs conduct electricity, they have been investigated as a means of triggering lightning or creating a lightning gun.
Sounds like you could make a hell of a tazer with that. :D
 

the details of Army's plan

All Army Aircraft Types Simultaneously Receive CIRCM​

The service is still deciding the fielding schedule.

The U.S. Army already is fielding its Common Infrared Countermeasures system to some units and will deliver the system simultaneously to all types of aircraft, Army officials told reporters during a recent telephonic roundtable.

The system commonly known as CIRCM is a next-generation lightweight, laser-based, open architecture, infrared countermeasure system. It will interface with the Army’s Common Missile Warning System, Limited Interim Missile Warning System and any future missile warning systems to defeat current and emerging missile threats to rotary-wing, tilt-rotor and small fixed-wing aircraft across the Defense Department. The CIRCM system protects against shoulder-fired and vehicle-launched anti-aircraft missiles that home in on the heat signature of an aircraft.

The system gives aircraft a defense capability they have not had before. “CIRCM is important because we did not have that defeat capability on other aircraft previously. We had to rely on flares. Now, CIRCM gives us a layered defeat, so we can use laser energy, and if that’s not working we can use flairs or we can use the combination of those two depending on what the threat is and how it’s going to impact us,” said Col. Kevin Chaney, USA, project manager for aircraft survivability equipment.

The Army recently awarded a five-year, indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract valued at up to $959 million to Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation for full rate production of the system.

The 1st Air Cavalry Brigade was the first unit to receive the system beginning in February of last year. Army officials told reporters the service will integrate the system onto helicopters and fixed wing aircraft at the same time. “Right now, it’s planned for the big three platforms, so Apache, Black Hawk and Chinook, plus some fixed wings,” Col. Chaney said. “We’re trying to work them all together right now to tell you the truth. We’re trying to push through and get them all out the door just due to trying to meet some timelines that are ongoing.”

However, Army officials could not provide details about the timeline over the long term. “When we did this for first unit equipped, we were planning for two years to outfit a brigade, and since then the Army’s made some strategic shifts in timelines … so we’re trying to figure out what’s the optimal timeline,” Col. Chaney reported.

In an email exchange following the media roundtable, an Army spokesman said the service intends to replace the Advanced Threat Countermeasures System (ATIRCM) with CIRCM no later than 2026.

The money saved by eliminating ATIRCM will benefit the CIRCM program, the Army officials indicated during the media roundtable. “With this CIRCM decision for full-rate production, this will allow us to start the divestiture of ATIRCM and generally phase it out. That will help offset the bill for CIRCM as we look at it in the future. We’ll be able to use some of those funds to buy CIRCMs, and it will be less impactful for the Army, and we’ll be just carrying one system,” Col. Chaney explained.

The service is using a block modernization approach, installing CIRCM onto aircraft at the same time it integrates the Limited Interim Warning System along with other modifications. Northrop Grumman said in a press release that the system has been installed on more than 150 aircraft.

 
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Alaire Technologies web page, note from march 2021:

TADIRCM II – DIRCM development for Tactical Fixed Wing Fighter/Attack Aircraft

Alaire personnel supported our customer’s development of DIRCM (Directed InfraRed Countermeasure) technology for Navy fighter aircraft. Our responsibilities included system architecture design support, embedded software and hardware development of system subcomponents, full system integration and testing support, post data collection analysis.
 
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Bit US centric, for obvious reasons, but worth noting that by then the Su-57 was already flying with internal (rather than podded, as seems to be the aim in these projects) fast-jet DIRCM. Some snippets on the British Tornado and Typhoon proposals (though otherwise pretty dated, being from 2002):


It would appear that the Typhoon installation was intended to be internal - also has a faceted dome that would lend itself to the kind of LO shaping that would not go amiss on the Su-57. It likely wasn't optimized for that purpose, but offers the potential for doing so.
 
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South Korea's Agency for Defense Development (ADD) announced on 12 January that it had successfully tested a locally developed directed infrared countermeasures (DIRCM) system for military aircraft self-protection.

The agency said that the DIRCM system, which is meant to protect aircraft from incoming portable infrared guided missiles (also known as manportable air-defence systems - MANPADS), was flight tested on a military helicopter during an initial operational test and evaluation phase carried out in co-operation with Hanwha System in 2020–21.

The ADD noted that the tests confirmed that the system's response time to deflect close range attack from MANPADS has been drastically shortened. A DIRCM system, cued by a missile warning receiver (MWR) which detects the incoming threat, enables the aircraft to avoid missiles by emitting a laser beam that ‘blinds' missiles that rely on heat to track targets.

The agency expects to apply the DIRCM system to different aircraft types, including large aircraft, once the system is enhanced with a higher-power laser output, to improve aircraft survivability

 
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