Common Missile Warning System (CMWS)

Abstract

The CMWS program is a missile warning system that cues both flare and laser-based countermeasures to defeat incoming IR seeking missiles and will alert aircrews to the presence of certain incoming unguided munitions. The B-Kit consists of the components which perform the missile detection and aircrew notification, unguided munitions detection and aircrew notification, false alarm rejection, and countermeasure employment/cueing functions of the system. The CMWS ECU receives UV missile detection data from EOMS, which detect UV signals, and sends a missile alert signal to warn aircrews via on-board avionics. Tier 1 threat missiles detected and tracked by the CMWS are subsequently defeated by a combination of missile seeker countermeasures, including decoy flares and IR Laser Jamming (currently CIRCM and ATIRCM equipped CH-47 platform only). In addition, the CMWS ECU receives from the EOMS unguided munitions detection data which it also passes to the aircrew through aural and visual alerts. The aircrew then applies the appropriate TTPs to break contact or engage the enemy with own-ship ordnance. The CMWS Generation 3 (Gen 3) ECU in conjunction with ongoing software development efforts will address outstanding materiel release conditions and ensure protection against emerging IR-guided missile threats. Due to evolving threats, CMWS will remain in the Army inventory beyond 2040 and must remain relevant against emerging threats. The A-Kit for CMWS includes mounting hardware, wiring harnesses, cables, 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. As a part of Phase 2a of the JUONS (SO-0010) program, the Army integrated the DoN LAIRCM system onto the Army and Special Operations Aircraft platforms. Due to a number of challenges, circumstances, and variables, the Army updated the Advanced Threat Warning/CIRCM QRC and LIMWS Directed Requirements (dated November 16, 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. Sustainment of ATW on Special Operations Aircraft will transfer to Special Operations Aircraft budget line in FY23). As a result, the Army did not acquire the ATW sensors for use in Phase 3 of the JUONS effort. Instead, the Army accelerated the procurement of the CIRCM QRC systems for use with the currently fielded CMWS in preparation for transition to the LIMWS system. Phase 4 LIMWS QRC addresses the HQDA Directed Requirement to provide a greater capability than CMWS, the current Program of Record (POR), to bridge the gap between CMWS and the future POR. LIMWS is required to provide increased detection range, improved detection in clutter, more agile algorithms to rapidly respond to emerging threats, and eliminates the need for sensor alignments. To maintain overmatch of quickly emerging threat technology and tactics, LIMWS will explore and develop system modifications and performance improvements. CMWS: FY 2023 Base RDTE dollars in the amount of $7.040 million will fund Future Sensor and Algorithm Analysis, Threat and Vulnerability Analysis, SEPM, and MBSE.

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Document Details

Document Type
Project
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2023
Source ID
ER8_0605051A_5_2040_PB_2023

Tags

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy

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