CIRCM

Abstract

The Common Infrared Countermeasure (CIRCM) budget line includes CIRCM (EB4), and funding to counter emerging technology as identified in Joint Urgent Operational Needs Statement (JUONS) SO-0010 Phase 2a and the Headquarters Department of the Army (HQDA) Directed Requirement for the Common Infrared Countermeasures Quick Reaction Capability (CIRCM QRC) approved in Nov 2018. CIRCM (EB4) The Common Infrared Countermeasure (CIRCM) is the next generation lightweight, laser-based Infrared Countermeasure (IRCM) component that will interface with both the Army's Common Missile Warning System (CMWS) and future missile warning systems (MWS) to defeat current and emerging missile threats that use multispectral technology for rotary-wing, tilt-rotor and small fixed-wing aircraft across the DoD. CIRCM receives an angular bearing hand-off from the MWS, employs a pointing and tracking system which acquires the handed-over threat and tracks the incoming missile during and after motor burnout. CIRCM jams the missile by using modulated laser energy in the missile seeker band, thus degrading the tracking capability of the missile and causing it to miss the aircraft. CIRCM is utilizing Open Systems Architecture which allows flexibility with software and hardware refreshes to keep pace with future threats. The CIRCM A-Kit includes mounting hardware, wiring harnesses, and other components necessary to install and interface the mission kit on host aircraft. The A-Kit ensures the mission kit is functionally and physically operational with a specific host aircraft type. The CIRCM B-Kit is the mission kit (laser, pointer tracker, and controller) required to achieve near spherical coverage for an aircraft. JUONS SO-0010 and CIRCM QRC As a part of Phase 2a of the JUONS (SO-0010) program, the Army has now integrated the Department of the Navy Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasure (DoN LAIRCM) system onto the Apache, Blackhawk, and Chinook platforms. Due to a number of challenges, circumstances, and variables, the Army updated the ATW/CIRCM QRC and LIMWS Directed Requirements (dated 16 November 2018). The updated requirements extend the utilization of ATW DoN LAIRCM on conventional Army aircraft and cancel the need for the ATW/CIRCM QRC system for the conventional Army. (It should be noted that the updated requirement maintains the need for ATW/CIRCM on the Special Operations aircraft.) As a result, the Army will no longer acquire the ATW sensors for use in Phase 3 of the JUONS effort. Instead, the Army will accelerate the procurement of the CIRCM QRC systems for use with the currently fielded Common Missile Warning System (CMWS) in preparation for transition to the Limited Interim Missile Warning System (LIMWS) system when available. FY 2020 Base Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) funding in the amount of $34.488 million will fund development, integration and test activities. FY 2020 RDT&E Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) funding in the amount of $11.770 million will fund development, integration and test activities for JUONS QRC in support of Technology Applications Program Office (TAPO) and CMWS/CIRCM in support of conventional Army.

Document Details

• Document Type: Project
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2020
• Source ID: EB4_0605035A_5_2040_PB_2020

Tags

Readers

• Aerospace Engineering

Technology Areas

• Directed Energy