C-music is a comprehensive aircraft self-defense solution. In the photo, under the fuselage of the B707 aircraft, the Elisra Paws missile launch warning system and the J-Music infrared guidance system are installed in the aerodynamic pylon.
In the weeks leading up to the start of air operations in Libya, a number of NATO countries (reportedly Germany, Great Britain and Italy) sent their Transall C-160 and C-130J aircraft to perform challenging missions in Libyan territory. They landed on runways and airfields near oil fields to evacuate local and foreign citizens and workers. British and Italian C-130Js (the Italian ones landed at Sabha airport about 640 km south of Tripoli) flew without threat detection systems in a rapidly escalating combat situation, characterized by a variety of air defense surveillance radars and the threat of using missiles with electromagnetic and infrared guidance
Among the weapons that became abandoned during the conflict in Libya were the latest and most effective portable missiles, namely the SA-18 Igla and the SA-24 Igla-S. They became the main target of recovery operations by US and NATO forces at the end of the conflict, as an unknown number of these missiles were stolen in Libya and sent to the illegal market that supplies terrorist organizations and paramilitaries. The Libyan crisis was the latest in a series of conflicts (starting with the Balkan Wars) in which transport aircraft were forced to operate in enclaves surrounded by hostile forces and in the immediate range of radars and infrared-guided weapons. In such conditions, the level of threat remained very high not only for the military, but also for civilian aircraft.
From the last years of the Soviet era to the present day, missiles of portable anti-aircraft missile systems (MANPADS) have gone through four generations:
• Russian CA-7A Strela-2 and SA-7B Strela-2M, Chinese HN-5A, Pakistani Anza Mk1 and American FIM-43 Redeye (Block II has a gas-cooled seeker, which puts it between the 1st and 2nd generations) belong to the first generation of missiles equipped with uncooled seeker (seeker), which are characterized by a rotating rectangular field of view with one detector, which leads to a decrease in accuracy when approaching a target or when shooting afterwards, not to mention their vulnerability to infrared (IR) traps (decoys).
• FIM-92A Stinger Basic, Strela-2M / A, CA-14 Strela-3, Chinese HN-5B, QW-1, FN-6, Pakistani Anza Mk II and Iranian Misagh-1 are second generation weapons with a cooled detector and search for targets with conical scanning, which eliminates the aforementioned decrease in accuracy. They differ in all-aspect capabilities, some resistance to IR traps and have a relatively high probability of being hit with one shot.
• The third generation of missiles, which include the American FIM-92B / C / E Stinger Post / RMP / Block I, the Russian SA-16 Igla-1, SA-18 Igla and SA-24 Igla-S, the Polish Thunder-1/2, Chinese QW-11/18/2, FN-16, Pakistani Anza Mk III and Iranian Misagh-2, along with the (then) Matra Mistral 1 and 2 systems, features a cooled detector with two IR channels or infrared and ultraviolet (IR / UV) channels with a socket that scans in a very narrow field of view (quasi-imaging), which provides all-angle capture, high resistance to IR traps, better resolution under poor recognition conditions and a high probability of destruction from the first launch.
• The fourth generation includes the Japanese Kin-SAM Type 91 missile and the Chinese QW-4, which are equipped with full-image IR-seeker, which are distinguished by very high resistance to IR traps and false targets. Targeting or beam-guided missiles such as Blowpipe, Javelin, and Starburst belong to a different league.
To protect low-speed tactical and strategic transport aircraft, which generate a strong thermal signature and have a large effective reflection area, a typical electronic suppression system of the early 90s could include a radar warning receiver (RWR), a passive ultraviolet missile attack warning system MWS (missile warning system) and CMDS (countermeasures (chaff / flare) dispensing system) automaton for dropping dipole reflectors and IR traps, although some platforms modified for various special forces, search and rescue, operational control, psychological and collection tasks information, equipped with more reliable sets of electronic warfare (electronic warfare). However, the appearance of a new generation of weapons revealed the need for improved protection systems, ranging from advanced MWS, new decoys, methods of dropping them, and ending with a stationary, and later directed system for countering IR guidance systems, now known as Dircm (Directional Infra- Red Countermeasures).
The Airbus A400M strategic transport aircraft is equipped with a basic protection package including Indra's ALR400M RWR / ESM radar warning receiver, Thales and Cassidian Miras IR missile warning systems, and MBDA's Saphir 400 automatic dipole reflectors and IR traps.
To disrupt the attack of an anti-aircraft missile and divert it from the target, infrared traps (thermal decoys) have been used as countermeasures for almost half a century. IR traps come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, with different functions, and are designed to create a more "attractive" IR signature compared to the target IR signature. They can also be used to jam a threat by saturating its computing or identification electronics. To create the necessary infrared radiation, a chemical energy source (pyrotechnic or pyrophoric) is used. The main reactive pyrotechnic cartridge continues to be the traditional magnesium teflon viton (MTV) trap. It was first used in Vietnam, and since then, its performance and safety have been steadily improving.
The emergence of traps with a double spectrum, however, led to the appearance of missile homing heads capable of distinguishing the radiation intensity and, as a result, recognizing and not perceiving standard MTV traps. To counter the new IR-seeker missiles, “movable” IR traps were developed. The new seeker operates in a special mode, which allows them to distinguish between the relatively proportional movement of the "target" during mobile flight and the movement of standard MTV traps, which, as a rule, fall freely when dropped from an aircraft. In addition to spatial (as opposed to a point source) and ballistically modified decoys, hidden traps are pyrophoric (using a metal foil that reacts with air and burns). Their advantage is that they are virtually invisible to the naked eye and prevent the aircraft from revealing its position as is the case with MTV traps. Their disadvantage is that they are mainly suitable for proactive release, which requires additional jet traps to be loaded onto the aircraft for comprehensive protection. Specialized companies such as Alloy Surfaces, Armtec Defense, Chemring Countermeasures, Etienne Lacroix, IMI, Kilgore Flares, Rheinmetall Waffe Munitions and Wallop Defense Systems have developed a range of kinematic, movable, spectrum adapted and spaced traps. To combat the second and third generation seeker, these traps can be dropped in various combinations and according to different schemes by "intelligent" CMDS systems created by ATK, BAE Systems, Kanfit, MBDA, Meggit Defense Systems, MES, Saab Electronic Defense Systems, Symetrics Industries, Terma and Thales.
The AAR-47B (V) 2 is the latest model of ATK's missile attack warning system with enemy fire indication capabilities. Designed to protect aircraft and helicopters from IR-guided missiles, laser-targeted threats, small arms and rocket-propelled grenades
Modern passive warning systems are capable of detecting ultraviolet and infrared radiation from a rocket's exhaust jet. Northrop Grumman and ATK supply their AAR-54 and AAR-47 systems respectively for aircraft in service with the US and foreign forces. Across the ocean, notable systems providers include Elisra Electronic Systems, Cassidian, and Saab Electronic Defense Systems. Elisra supplies Paws (Passive Missile Approach Warning System) with IR sensor and Paws 2 with dual color IR sensor, while Cassidian offers AAR-60 Milds warning system and Saab UV system under the designation Maw-300 …
DIRCM systems are gaining popularity
The advent of new infrared missile homing heads that are immune to IR traps has accelerated the transition to more efficient Dircm laser systems, which can combat all known and still in development IR-guided missiles. The cost, maintenance, and reliability of these systems have limited their use in the past, but as laser technology improves and miniaturization continues, and as threats become more sophisticated, larger fleets of transport and special air platforms are now ready to accept Dircm systems.
Northrop Grumman's AAQ-24 (V) Laircm (Large Aircraft IR Countermeasures) is a modification of the earlier AAQ-24 Nemesis. Until 2011, she had accumulated over one million flight hours in the American and allied contingents, most of them during deployment and in combat conditions with an operational readiness level of over 99%. Based on an open system, the modular and highly reliable Laircm complex consists of an AAR-54 ultraviolet warning system from Northrop Grumman, several jamming turrets (stations), a laser transmitter unit, a control interface, signal processors for tracking, jamming and countering attacking IR missiles.
The number of sensors (up to six) and turrets (up to three) per ship is determined by the size and signature of the aircraft. Initially, the system was installed on the C-17, later it was installed on the C-130, C-5 and new C-130Js, including the AC / EC / MC-130J. The Laircm is also being installed on the US Navy's C-40A Clipper transport aircraft, and is also selected for the P8A Poseidon ASW / ASuW and KC46A tankers. It is being tested on the outdated KC135, but here the system is based on separate, easily removable nacelles that carry all the electronic equipment to control the AAR-54 MWS warning system and a single laser emitter station. The Laircm is also being installed aboard the British C-17, Tristar and Airbus A330 Voyageur tankers, and has recently been ordered for the new Airbus A400M transports of the British Air Force. Under intergovernmental agreements, Australia and Canada have chosen and are installing the Laircm complex on board their C-130, C-17 aircraft and on the B737 Wedgetail AEW & C AWACS aircraft. The system is also being installed on NATO's E3B Awacs early warning and warning aircraft.
Northrop Grumman's Laircm complex is gradually migrating from a small laser transmitter (SLTA) turret to a GLTA (Guardian Laser Tramsitter Assembly) jamming head of reduced size and weight, while the AAR-54 UV detection device is being replaced by a two-color (dual band) IR missile warning system next generation attack
The AAQ-24 (V) Laircm from Northrop Grumman is based on an open architecture. A typical kit weighing just over 90 kg includes a five-sensor warning system AAR-54, two jamming turrets, control and calculation blocks
The Laircm Stage I system for the Air Force entered service in 2005. Its jamming station is called the Small Laser Transmitter Assembly (SLTA). It houses a colorless, eye-safe, multiband diode-pumped semiconductor laser developed by Fibertek, Viper, which operates in all three segments of the infrared range used by heat-seeking missiles. The Laircm Phase II program created a lighter and smaller jamming turret called the Guardian Laser Transmitter Assembly (GLTA), which Northrop Grumman began supplying to the Air Force in late 2008 along with the NexGen MWS missile attack warning system. Selex ES (formerly Selex Galileo) manufactured all tracking and jamming turrets in the UK for the Nemesis and Laircm programs as a key supplier to Northrop Grumman. The latter continues to manufacture SLTA and GLTA based on customer needs, while the US Air Force is gradually replacing SLTA with GLTA on a number of platforms, including the C-17. For the new MC-130J aircraft program, US Air Force Special Forces are supplied with recessed turrets, GLTA laser transmitters and NexGen MWS missile detection systems. In May 2012, the Air Force approved the serial production of the new MWS two-color infrared warning system, replacing the original AAR-54 based on the UV sensor. The MWS NexGen system offers an increased likelihood of detecting existing missiles, a low false alarm rate, and long-range detection, according to DOD filings. In addition, when loaded with special software, it can be used to improve the situational awareness of the crew, providing a full all-round IR view.
In accordance with a joint agreement signed in 2007 between Elbit Systems and Elettronica to jointly develop a family of Music Dircm systems based on a fiber-optic laser designed to protect civil and military aircraft and helicopters, Elettronica is working on an ELT / 572 dual turret kit for the Italian Armaments Directorate under a three-year contract worth 25.4 million euros, issued in December 2010 and providing for the development of the system, ground and flight tests and certification. The twin turret kit should be installed on tactical transports (C-130J, C-27J) in service, on the new AW101 search and rescue helicopters, although there is already the following requirement to install various system configurations on B767A tankers and other transport aircraft.
After successful laboratory tests by Elettronica and tests carried out by the Italian Air Force on a helicopter platform in a single turret against emulated and real IR-seeker, ground and flight tests of the system integrated with the Milds (AAR-60) MWS UV system from Cassidian began. The latter systems are already in use on Italian transport aircraft and helicopters. The final double turret / MWS configuration will be validated in the second half of the year with the goal of completing the system qualification by the end of 2013. Deliveries of the first five kits are scheduled for early 2015, after which contracts will be concluded for the supply of subsequent systems.
The ELT / 572 system weighs 45 kg, including the jamming turret, laser generator and processing units. It is based on a fiber optic laser operating at various infrared frequencies and provides an interference-to-signal ratio greater than unity. According to Elettronica, the system is "ready for export", it is not affected by the International Arms Trade Regulations (ITAR), and it also allows the user to download their own libraries of codes for laser jamming. The system has already attracted the attention of European and Middle Eastern countries and was successfully tested in July 2012 at the WTD52 test bench under the program of the German Ministry of Defense.
Elettronica has developed and integrated the ELT-572 Dircm laser system with a double turret configuration on various platforms. In 2013, the system is being tested and tested. ELT-572 is based on the Music system jointly developed by Elettronica and Elop and will be installed on Italian aircraft and helicopters.
Elbit Elop's J-Music system in single or twin head features a distributed configuration and is designed for large aircraft. It is based on a highly movable spherical mirror head (as opposed to the Music system facet head). J-Music is ready for installation on Embraer KC-390
Elbit Elops is promoting the Music Dircm family of compact and lightweight fiber laser systems, which have already proven themselves in Israel and elsewhere, especially on the AgustaWestland AW101 Indian military helicopters. In addition to the Music solution for the protection of helicopters, small and medium turboprop aircraft, Elbit offers J-Music and C-Music systems. Based on the later highly movable mirror head (instead of the Music facet head), the J-Music system features a distributed configuration (single or double turret) to protect large vessels such as heavy transports, tankers and business jet aircraft. It has already been selected for the Brazilian Embraer KC-390 tactical transport aircraft program. C-Music is a comprehensive self-defense system based on an aerodynamic nacelle and includes an Elbit Paws and J-Music Dircm infrared warning system with a total weight of 160 kg. C-Music is specially designed for civil and large passenger aircraft and, as a result, meets commercial aviation certification standards; it was selected by the Israeli government for its civil aircraft. According to Elbit, the C-Music system underwent a series of successful flight tests aboard the B707 in January 2012, while other sources say it recently completed operational tests on an unidentified Heyl Ha'Avir platform. Such activity began after the launch of a SA-7 Strela missile at an Israeli military aircraft flying over the Gaza Strip in October 2012. After this incident, serious concerns were expressed about the possibility of arms supplies from Libya after the fall of the Gaddafi regime in 2011.
Indra's Manta (MANpads Threat Avoidance) Dircm multispectral multiband system uses a relatively large but powerful Russian-made chemical laser. Also, work continues on a more compact version.
Ten years ago, the Spanish company Indra decided to start the Manta (Manpads Threat Avoidance) project in order to supplement the self-defense complex of military transport aviation with the Dircm system. To date, Manta has been approved by the Spanish Airworthiness Agency after an arduous process that has confirmed its technological maturity, readiness and compatibility with the widely used Cassidian AAR-60 Milds system. She demonstrated her qualities during the Embow NATO exercise in France in September 2011 and in other international tests in 2012. The Manta laser multispectral multiband protection system was developed by the Russian Rosoboronexport (more precisely, FSUE NII Ekran, approx. Per.), It uses a relatively large but powerful chemical laser supplied by the Russian industry, which allows the system to have a feedback loop (obtained in the process flight information is used to select the optimal modulation), classify missiles with IR and non-IR guidance and perform jamming with a high probability of success thanks to a common optical channel for tracking and jamming, the ability to repel attacks from multiple threats, as well as an instant assessment of the effectiveness of countermeasures. The Manta system, capable of combating 1st and 2nd generation seeker systems, is offered in the following configurations: in-plane, nacelle and sponson installations. Since the system was once created for large and medium platforms, Indra is currently working on a compact version for lighter platforms, but also produces an initial version for protecting large aircraft, for example the A400M. The Manta system was supposed to be installed on the Spanish A310 VIP and C295, and later on the A400M, but budget cuts prevented these plans.
The Guardian Dircm by Northrop Grumman is housed in a self-contained, easily removable gondola. The system is designed for civil and military use. This system was tested by the US government to protect national airlines.
Drawing on the experience gained in the design and manufacture of high-performance aircraft lasers and optoelectronic stabilization and guidance systems, Selex ES is showcasing its new Dircm solution at IDEX 2013.
Called Miysis (the ancient Egyptian lion-headed god of war), the new solution is a next-generation system based on the company's development of the company's lightweight and inexpensive Eclipse IR pointer / tracker and its Type 160 diode pumped fiber laser. The hardware and software components of the system are ready for export. The Eclipse and Type 160 were selected by the British Department of Defense in March 2010 as part of the Common Defensive Aid Suite program to test the architecture of an advanced defense system. The Misys Dircm kit is available for integration either as a subsystem or as a separate protection system, which in turn comes either with distributed components or in a special nacelle container. The Misys Dircm kit weighs less than 50 kg and includes two sensor turrets, an MWS kit with five sensor heads, an electronic display unit in the cockpit and a control unit. The Misys kit is suitable for a range of applications, from light aircraft and UAVs to large transport aircraft, it consumes less than 500 watts of power and its open architecture allows integration with several warning systems, including the latest AAR60 Milds from Cassidian and Maw300 from Saab. … According to Selex documentation, the two sensor turrets and the MWS kit are effective enough to protect a platform such as the A400M. Selex ES notes that it is quite successfully negotiating with the first customer, and is also discussing with Northop Grumman its possible participation in the Misys program.
Miysis is based on the development of the Eclipse pointer and the Type 160 IRCM IR laser. This system was shown at IDEX2013. According to SelexES, the system is ready for export in all respects. Experienced Miysis nacelle is expected to undergo flight tests in 2014
From the very beginning of the multinational program on the strategic transport aircraft Airbus A400M, the industry of the countries of the international consortium has worked on an integrated basic defense system, fearing the threat of a new generation of anti-aircraft missile systems. The system should include an Indra ALR400M RWR / ESM radar receiver, Miras (Multicolour Infrared Alerting Sensor) from Thales and Cassidian, a Saphir 400 CMDS countermeasures dropper from MBDA, a Dircm system and a system control unit. The ALR400M from Indra is the most advanced variant of the ALR400 RWR / ESM (Radar Warning Receiver) family based on broadband digital technology. Unique multi-color infrared detector Miras (Fraunhofer IAF has developed the main sensor component) with frequency band exclusion algorithms offers threat detection at long distances, fast reaction times and low probability of false alarms against MANPADS and air-to-air missiles, its three-sensor unit is controlled by a special processor signal processing. MBDA's Saphir 400 Large False Target Destroyer with software-controlled capabilities completes the basic system.
France and Germany through the companies Cassidian, Thales, Sagem and Diehl BGT Defense for some time collaborated on the Flash demo program (Flying Laser self-defense system Against IR Seeker head missiles of High performances - an onboard self-defense system against highly effective missiles with IR seeker), based on the experimental Dircm feedback system that performs threat detection, identification, jamming and damage assessment. In September 2011, the two countries asked the European Arms Cooperation Organization OCCAR to lead the risk mitigation phase of this program, aimed at developing Dircm for A400M and potentially for other aircraft. According to OCCAR documentation released in late 2009, the closed loop laser (Dircm-CL) solution should be ready in 2014. The complex should cope with MANPADS of the 1st-3rd generations; in the future, the potential for building up capabilities should allow it to deal with MANPADS of the 4th generation and large IR-guided missiles. Although the risk mitigation phase has been completed, an agreement has yet to be reached between the two countries for an OCCAR-led development, fabrication and integration program. Meanwhile, the basic configuration for the A400M aircraft described above (without Dircm) has been agreed between these countries with the participation of Malaysia. Industry is now supplying protection subsystems for testing and qualification as part of an operational readiness process that was due to be completed by the end of 2013. Airbus Military “made a firm commitment” to deliver the first A400M to the French Air Force even before the Paris Air Show.
While the scope of application of Dircm systems (directional systems for countering infrared guidance systems) is expanding, consumable decoys systems will be installed on transport and special aircraft, since they are several times cheaper than Dircm systems and provide good protection in conditions of multiple threats. However, the recent crisis in Libya has highlighted the need to expand the range of protection, including from missiles with a radar guidance system.
In addition to its Idas integrated protection systems (the picture shows the system components installed on the Saab 2000AEW & C aircraft), the Swedish group of companies is promoting a solution specially designed for commercial use and called Camps (Civil Aircraft Missile Protection System - a system for protecting civilian ships from missiles)
French and German companies Cassidian, Thales, Sagem and Diehl BGT Defense are collaborating on a Flash demo program based on the experimental Dircm feedback system. Germany and France have requested OCCAR to guide the program, but no decision has yet been made on the program.
