Article

2020-01-06 Science & Technology

Night Stalker Chinook Special Operations Helicopters Have New Laser Countermeasures System

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Posted by Besoeker 2020-01-06 00:00|| || Front Page|| [4 views ] Top

#1 Cool read.

It's somewhat curious that the urgent SOCOM requirement for DIRCM systems only came in 2015

Just about the time patrolling the southern border became an election issue.

Posted by Skidmark 2020-01-06 06:42|| 2020-01-06 06:42|| Front Page Top

#2 Along with a few others, the Army Research Lab (ARL) has been working the non-trivial aviation countermeasures problem for years. Decoy flares (see graphic above) have been the traditional approach, but you can only put so many flare pods and flares on an aircraft. A farmer using a Lincoln welder on the ground would set off older countermeasures systems and you'd be out of flares in no time. Point A to point B was not so bad, orbiting a designated 'kill box' for hours, yet another (if you're out of flares).

The downing of Extortion-17 may have had something to do with it.

Lastly, decoy flares are very expensive. Dated info, but in 2006 the damn things were over $120. per each.

Posted by Besoeker 2020-01-06 07:26|| 2020-01-06 07:26|| Front Page Top

#3 https://www.northropgrumman.com/Capabilities/DIRCM/Pages/default.aspx
The AN/AAQ-24(V) Directional Infrared Countermeasure (DIRCM) system is the only DIRCM system in production today that will protect aircraft from today's infrared guided missiles. Traditional IR countermeasures are not effective against the modern IR missiles that are growing in popularity among terrorist groups and in third world countries.

Posted by b 2020-01-06 07:56|| 2020-01-06 07:56|| Front Page Top

#4 which use lasers to blind and confuse the seeker on infrared-homing missiles

And back-calculate the trajectory, and feed the launch coordinates to an anti-battery weapon?

Posted by Glenmore 2020-01-06 17:38|| 2020-01-06 17:38|| Front Page Top

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