GRAHAM WARWICK / WASHINGTON DC
Directed infrared countermeasures for fast jet aircraft will jam missile seekers
The US Navy plans to launch development of the first laser anti-missile system for fast jet aircraft. Industry expects a draft request for proposals for pre-development risk reduction work to be released early next year under the Tactical Aircraft Directed Infrared Countermeasures (TADIRCM) programme.
Live fire tests under the US Navy's TADIRCM advanced technology demonstration were set for late October using a prototype system built by BAE Systems' US arm. Captive missile detection and jamming tests were completed at the navy's China Lake, California, weapons range in early October.
The TADIRCM directs modulated laser energy to seduce the seekers of IR-guided surface-to-air and air-to-air missiles. BAE's system includes six two-colour IR staring-array missile warning sensors, a signal processor, a solid-state IR laser and two low-profile pointer/ trackers, or "jam heads".
Northrop Grumman, which participated in earlier stages of the TADIRCM demonstration, expects to compete for the development programme. The company is producing the lamp-based AAQ-24(V) Nemesis DIRCM for the UK Ministry of Defence and US Special Operations Command and is developing a lamp- and laser-based variant for Australia's Boeing 737 Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft. The company has been selected to supply a laser-based variant of the system for the US Air Force's Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) programme (Flight International, 30October-5 November).
The US Department of Defense has ordered a clamp down on the release of information on LAIRCM, but previously published plans included installation of an available system on up to 12 Boeing C-17s and eight Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules as a stop-gap measure. This may have been accelerated by the need to protect transports that could be tasked to support US ground forces operating inside Afghanistan.
As well as the TADIRCM demonstration, BAE Systems' US arm is developing the ALQ-212 Advanced Threat Infrared Countermeasures system for US Army helicopters, with a decision on low-rate initial production due early next year. The company is also participating in the UK MoD's fast-jet DIRCM technology demonstration programme.
Source: Flight International
