Infrared Countermeasures Test and Evaluation
Abstract
A shadowy figure hides in the brush near a military or civilian airport. A man-portable surface-to-air missile rests on his shoulder as he watches the aircraft take off. When the big jet reaches 3,000 feet, the missile "locks" onto the heat from the aircraft engines, and the gunner pulls the trigger. The 24-pound missile quickly accelerates to Mach 2, reaching its target in less than 5 seconds. The 4-pound warhead, although relatively small, is enough to bring the aircraft down. Over half a million of these relatively inexpensive weapons are available worldwide and are easily obtainable by terrorists, insurgents, and other enemy combatants. To counter this threat, the U.S. military, as well as the Department of Homeland Security, are developing Infrared Countermeasure (IRCM) systems. These IRCM systems are designed to defeat both surface-to-air and air-to-air missiles by detecting the ultraviolet (UV) or infrared (IR) radiation from the missile plume (the exhaust trail from the missile) and then initiating countermeasures. Countermeasures include both flares, which are designed to give the missile a decoy target; and laser jammers, which cause missile guidance systems to abruptly steer away from the target aircraft. Examples of IRCM systems currently in development include the Army's Advanced Threat IRCM/Common Missile Warning System (ATIRCM/CMWS); the Air Force's Large Aircraft IRCM (LAIRCM) NexGen; and the Navy's Strike Directional IRCM (DIRCM).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2007
- Accession Number
- ADA516772
Entities
People
- G. D. Hinton
Organizations
- Office Of The Under Secretary Of Defense