The need for Flares for Fighter and Helicopter Countermeasure Dispenser System in the age of DIRCM

Can’t afford a Directed Infra-Red Counter-Measure (DIRCM) or worried about relying on only a DIRCM for infra-red aircraft self-protection?  Flares and a Counter-Measure Dispenser System (CMDS) can provide an affordable and effective aircraft self-protection solution. Here’s why and what you need to know on why flares and CMDS are still necessary and capable complements to a DIRCM for aircraft self-protection.

Close-in defeating of an IR missile

DIRCM excels at defeating IR missiles at maximum or extended range from the aircraft.  Flares excel at defeating of IR missiles at close-in or minimum distances.  A snapshot of the situation as it exists today reveals that flares (and chaff) can still be highly effective against the vast majority of currently deployed missile threats.

Flares and DIRCM are Complementary

DIRCM and flares are not replacements for each other; rather, they are quite complementary to each other.  According to Congressman Joe Pitts (Chairman of the Electronic Warfare Working Group - EWWG), “a recent NATO Industrial Armaments Group (NIAG) study concluded that advanced flares would be a necessary complement to future laser DIRCM systems.”

Blind, Busy or Broken

If the DIRCM on your aircraft were to be “blind, busy or broken,” meaning, respectively, the DIRCM can’t see the incoming IR missile; is already trying to defeat other IR missile; or has suffered a malfunction; flares and a CMDS would absolutely be required to ensure an IR missile targeting an aircraft is defeated.

Defense-in-Depth

As DIRCM is very effective at defeating an IR missile at or nearer to the missile’s maximum range and flares are very effective at defeating an IR missile at or nearer to the missile’s minimum range, together they provide the time-tested strategy of defense-in-depth, helping to better ensure an aircraft is sufficiently protected against IR missile attack.

Advanced flares and flare dispense patterns

Kinematic flares and flare patterns specific to the detected threat scenario provide much improved counter to IR missiles than either non-kinematic or single flare dispensing.

Flares and a Counter-Measure Dispenser System (CMDS) can provide an affordable aircraft self-protection solution that can effectively counter IR missiles, especially in conjunction with a DIRCM.

For more information, visit our website www.symetrics.com