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Low Cost Infrared Countermeasures (IRCM) Aircraft Protection Systems Raytheon Missile Systems Elka E. Koehler, Ph.D. October 6th, 2005 1 The Threat • Military Inventories estimate – 350K – 500K missiles • Non-State Actors – 25-30 groups (IRA, FARC, Hezbollah, PKK) – 5-150K missiles • Reported IR missiles – Stinger (USA) – SA-7, SA-14/16/18 (Russia) – HN-5/QW-1 (China) • Reports of Missiles in Circulation – “5,592 missiles captured in Afghanistan as of December 2002” – “4-5K available to Iraqi insurgents” Source: Bart Elias, Congressional Research Service, 2 Dec 03 2 Proliferation is Massive The Need The Warfighter Needs Protection … Current jammers can’t do the job: – costly, heavy & bulky AH-1W Super Cobra Fires on Iraqi positions in S. Iraq UH-60 Blackhawk over Iraq US Black Hawk Helicopter crashes near Tikrit in Iraq, six marines dead (Nov ’03) 3 Protect The Warfighter From MANPADS & Air-to-Air Missiles The Need Commercial Airlines Need Protection…….. • Manpads will unavoidably become more attractive to terrorists – 2002 attempt to bring down Israeli airliner at Mambosa, Kenya • Deploying antimissile defenses on planes is too expensive now - Equipping 6,800 commercial jets would cost $11B - Annual operating costs would be $2.1B • Total federal spending on all transportation security is ~$4.4B Source: RAND Report, Jan 05 A Reliable Low-Cost Aircraft Protection System is Needed Now 4 Programs Overview Scorpion Quiet Eyes Low Cost Aircraft Protection System Low Cost DIRCM Micro-Turret Navy: Rapid Technology Transition Program Pointer Laser OSD & Air Force: Defense Acquisition Challenge Program Controller Pointer Controller Laser MW Sensor “The Incumbents can’t get on the small helos” “Cost, weight, reliability are big issues for existing systems” • Very low cost, low weight, small size • Leverages production systems to achieve high reliability • Meets full coverage & performance requirements 5 The Shout for Affordable Aircraft Self-Protection is Loud & Clear How It Works 1• Missile launch is detected by missile warning sensors 2• Pointer is directed onto, and tracks, the missile 1 2 Missile Warning Coverage 3 4 6 3• A low power infrared laser jams the missile seeker 4• Laser jamming causes the missile to miss Laser-based Infrared Countermeasures (IRCM) AIM-9X Pointer Sidewinder AIM-9X • Already in production • Very low cost • Proven reliability • Small size & weight AIM-9X Pointer 7 Pointer Based on Production AIM-9X Missile Pointer Optical Components Pointer Dome Pod Lenses Laser • Telescope: Dome, lenses, mirrors, prisms – Collects infrared light emitted by incoming missile • Detector: An array of semiconductor material sensitive to infrared light – Converts incident light into electronic signals • Laser: High intensity light source – Confuses incoming missile’s detector 8 Optics are Critical Components of Aircraft Protection Sytems Summary of the Aircraft Protection System Pointer Thermal Radiation from Missile Missile Laser Beam from Pointer Pointer Telescope • Incoming missile heats up and emits infrared light (Thermal radiation) • Telescope detects and tracks thermal radiation of incoming missile Pointer Laser • Laser wavelength must match incoming missile’s operational wavelength • Multi-band laser necessary to protect from various threats: •Stinger, SA-7, SA-14/16/18, HN-5/QW-1 • Laser is modulated to jam the incoming missile 9 Missile Warning Sensors & Laser Missile Warning Sensors Multi-band IR Laser • Design accommodates a variety of missile warning sensors (UV, IR) • Design works with a variety of mid IR laser technologies • Raytheon produces robust 1-color sensors currently flying on F16Is • Raytheon working with Aculight on both Navy (Scorpion) & Air Force Defense Acquisition Challenge program (Quiet Eyes) • Navy Scorpion program upgrades production 1-color sensors to 2-color. 10 • All lasers are multi-band IR Missile Warning Sensors and Multi-band Laser also Mature Summary • Optics are critical components of IRCM aircraft protections systems – Pointer telescope detects and tracks threats – Laser jams and confuses incoming missiles • Significant benefits compared with existing systems – Very Low Cost – Highly reliable – Small package • Multiple services pursuing capability – Navy: Protection for small helicopters – Air Force: Affordable pointer • Leverages proven systems to provide near term capability – AIM-9X pointer & Processor – Production missile warning sensors • Programs showing tremendous progress – Initial pointer demonstrations complete – System prototype demonstration scheduled for late 2006 11 Affordable, Reliable Aircraft Self-Protection