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DIRCM concept
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In December of 2004, “El Al Deploying Anti-Missile Defense on Civilian Plane” covered early deployment of a system called Flight Guard aboard civilian jet liners, following a November 2002 incident in which shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles (MANPADS) were launched unsuccessfully at an Arkia plane in Mombasa, Kenya. That FlightGuard system is a civilian version of IAI/Elta’s popular ELM 2160, and costs about $1 million per plane for sensors and flares. The flares were the sticking point. Even though they were redesigned to be larger (to divert from larger targets), burn for a shorter time (to minimize ground hazard), and almost invisible to human eyes (to prevent panics), many locations were leery about allowing a flare-dispensing system near civilian airports.

In contrast, Elbit Subsidiary El-Op’s 25kg MUSIC (Multi-Spectral Infared Countermeasures) system takes the DIRCM approach – a wise decision given civilian concerns, and key military trends….

MUSIC components
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MUSIC is actually more like a symphony. A missile approach warning system (MAWS, using radar plus infared or ultraviolet to reduce false positives) detects approaching missiles, then an advanced FLIR system tracks it and guides the high-speed turret as it automatically slews and fires a human-safe laser beam at the missile. The laser’s pulses blind the missile’s sensors, either confusing the seeker away from the plane or simply overloading its sensors and turning it into a rocket. It’s a very big sky; an unguided rocket is going to miss an aircraft as it takes evasive action because the pilots received their warning from the MAWS.

Older MANPADS like the common SAM-7 Strela produced under license by Iran rely on infared detection of an aircraft’s exhaust plume. This makes their effectiveness questionable against military jets, who are almost always in a ‘tail chase’ position when lock is achieved and can put on a burst of speed to cruise out of its range. Large civilian jets with bright exhaust plumes and slow acceleration are another matter, of course, though the Mombasa incident proved that even civilian aircraft are hardly sitting ducks. Both flares and DIRCM systems will be effective against such threats.

The complicating factor for future threats is the fact that since the 1980s, shoulder-fired missiles have been diversifying their guidance systems, carrying dual infared/ultraviolet detectors and/or using advanced algorithms that help them ignore diversionary defenses like flares. As more advanced weapons proliferate via state support for terrorists or black market sales, the advantage begins to shift rather clearly away from diversionary decoys. In their place, customers will want systems that interfere with the missile more directly, and can be upgraded for additional threat types. DIRCM systems will be around for a long time, therefore, and could well be considered a strategic defense technology capability for nations under threat.

Which may help to explain why a system that was originally developed for helicopters has just received project approval from Israel’s Security Cabinet in order to equip Israel’s civilian aircraft. Investment in the MUSIC airliner project will commence in early 2008, but the Reuters report quotes El-Op deputy director Yisrael Anschel as saying that adapting MUSIC for bigger aircraft could take another 2 years. That would mean a 2009-2010 fielding date. The reports add that IAI’s Flight Guard will remain on some Israeli passenger planes, even after the new MUSIC system is phased in.

As the Israelis have learned from hard experience, it pays to be careful.

Additional Readings & Sources…

• JIJNSA (June 8/06) – Protecting Commercial Airliners from Short-Range Missiles: Airlines, Defense Firms Debate Threat and Cost. Discusses a number of commercial systems proposed for use in the USA.

• Armada International (Dec 04/Jan 05) – Shake It Off Your Tail!. Excellent overview of the systems on the global market.

• AIAA, Aerospace America magazine (May 2002) – IRCM: The place to be in EW. Market forecast by the Teal Group.

• Elbit Systems – Multi-Spectral Counter MANPADS System (MUSIC®)

• Reuters (Oct 10/07) – Israel switching to lasers to defend civilian jets

• Israeli Weapons – Flight Guard

• IAI (Sept 8/03) – IAI/Elta’s “Flight Guard” Commercial Aircraft Protection System Funded By Israel Ministry Of Transportation

• Israel21c (June 15/03) – World’s first self-protection system for commercial aircraft at Paris Air Show. MUSIC was beginning development as a cooperative venture between Elbit & RAFAEL at the time,. RAFAEL has since dropped out of the joint project.