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BAE SYSTEMS/I.S. navy Tadircm clears major development milestone

31 Jan 2002

The U.S. Navy's Tactical Aircraft Directable Infrared Countermeasures (TADIRCM) system completed a final major test in 2001 - confirming that the technology is ready for the next stage of development. The programme is researching the feasibility of a deployable IR laser countermeasures capability aboard tactical aircraft.

The November 19, 2001, test was the first time that a modern infrared air-to-air missile launched at a tactical fighter has been defeated by an on-board laser-based directional infrared countermeasures system. The test was conducted at the U.S. Naval Weapons Range at China Lake, California.

"The TADIRCM programme has demonstrated that this capability is ready for the next stage of development," said Captain Robert Boyd, Program Executive Office, Tactical Air Programs (PMA-272). "The whole team including NRL, BAE Systems, China Lake and U.S. Air Force personnel should be commended for a job well done.""

For the live fire test, the TADIRCM system was installed on a U.S. Navy QF-4 drone flying at high speed over the China Lake range. The drone was pursued by two Air Force F-15 fighters, one of which was equipped with the infrared air-to-air missile. The F-15 locked onto the target drone and fired its missile. Aboard the drone, the two-colour missile warning system - using Naval Research Laboratory developed algorithms - immediately detected the launch. Missile declaration and laser jamming by the BAE Systems "Agile Eye" IR countermeasures system occurred very rapidly, and drove the missile off course.

Kathy Lanier, BAE Systems programme manager said, "TADIRCM performed flawlessly. The system operated without a failure during an entire month of tests, and its performance in protecting the aircraft was outstanding." Lanier praised the system performance in previous surface-to-air and simulated tests earlier in the month as well, noting that the system detected every missile, and followed through by getting laser energy squarely on the target."