NEW DELHI - India is looking for overseas partners to jointly develop a laser-based directed infrared countermeasure (DIRCM) system to protect aircraft against ground-launched infrared guided missiles.
The DIRCM will be jointly produced with India's state-owned Defence Avionics Research Establishment (DARE), based in Bangalore.
Global tenders for the multimillion-dollar contract have been sent to defense companies in Europe, Israel, Russia and the United States, said a senior official of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which controls the DARE laboratory.
The DIRCM self-protection suite is a laser-based directed infrared countermeasure system for protecting aircraft and helicopters against shoulder-launched heat-seeking missiles known as MANPADS.
The Indian Air Force re-evaluated the threat from such missiles after the Kargil battle in 1999 when two of its aircraft, a MiG-21 and a MiG-27, and an attack helicopter were hit by MANPADS, Air Force sources said.
The service wants systems with jamming capabilities as part of the defense against such missiles Air Force sources said all the aircraft will be equipped with advanced DIRCM systems while the helicopters are equipped with protection against infrared-seeking air-to-air missiles.
A DARE official said a missile warning system would cue DIRCM, which then would turn toward the approaching threat and direct its laser beam toward the missile's seeker to disrupt its guidance system and break its lock on the aircraft.
India wants the DIRCM to be able to counter current-generation MANPADS, a senior Defence Ministry official said. The system should be able to defeat a missile fired from below the aircraft and should be effective at altitudes of at least 15,000 feet.
Though the current tender is mainly for Air Force aircraft, helicopter protection is also vital, the Defence Ministry official said.
DARE and EADS Defense Electronics are jointly developing a missile warning system for the homegrown Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter. The system, based on EADS' MILDS AN/AAR-60 warning sensor, will be integrated into the Dhruv's existing multisensor warning system, the DARE official added.
The missile warning system will detect and track the ultraviolet emissions of approaching missiles, including heat-seeking, shoulder-launched missiles, the most prevalent threat.
India Seeks DIRCM Partners To Protect Aircraft From Missiles - Defense News
The DIRCM will be jointly produced with India's state-owned Defence Avionics Research Establishment (DARE), based in Bangalore.
Global tenders for the multimillion-dollar contract have been sent to defense companies in Europe, Israel, Russia and the United States, said a senior official of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which controls the DARE laboratory.
The DIRCM self-protection suite is a laser-based directed infrared countermeasure system for protecting aircraft and helicopters against shoulder-launched heat-seeking missiles known as MANPADS.
The Indian Air Force re-evaluated the threat from such missiles after the Kargil battle in 1999 when two of its aircraft, a MiG-21 and a MiG-27, and an attack helicopter were hit by MANPADS, Air Force sources said.
The service wants systems with jamming capabilities as part of the defense against such missiles Air Force sources said all the aircraft will be equipped with advanced DIRCM systems while the helicopters are equipped with protection against infrared-seeking air-to-air missiles.
A DARE official said a missile warning system would cue DIRCM, which then would turn toward the approaching threat and direct its laser beam toward the missile's seeker to disrupt its guidance system and break its lock on the aircraft.
India wants the DIRCM to be able to counter current-generation MANPADS, a senior Defence Ministry official said. The system should be able to defeat a missile fired from below the aircraft and should be effective at altitudes of at least 15,000 feet.
Though the current tender is mainly for Air Force aircraft, helicopter protection is also vital, the Defence Ministry official said.
DARE and EADS Defense Electronics are jointly developing a missile warning system for the homegrown Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter. The system, based on EADS' MILDS AN/AAR-60 warning sensor, will be integrated into the Dhruv's existing multisensor warning system, the DARE official added.
The missile warning system will detect and track the ultraviolet emissions of approaching missiles, including heat-seeking, shoulder-launched missiles, the most prevalent threat.
India Seeks DIRCM Partners To Protect Aircraft From Missiles - Defense News