The Resurgence of The Manpads Threat and Importance of Advanced Laser DIRCM

The threat of infrared (IR) Man-Portable Air Defence Systems (MANPADS) first rose to prominence during the 1980s when US Stinger missiles supplied to the Mujahideen in Afghanistan were a game-changer, inflicting hundreds of Soviet losses. Helicopters pumping out flare decoys became a defining image of that war.

Simple, inexpensive, easy to conceal and operate, the proliferation of MANPADS continued and, during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan in the 2000s, the potentially strategic impact of a successful attack on a troop carrying platform was a constant concern for coalition airpower.

It was during that time that laser-based Directed Infrared Countermeasures (DIRCM) systems were first deployed as a superior alternative to flare decoys. However, these early DIRCMs were only available to the UK and US due to export restrictions. Other coalition nations, despite being equally committed, were unable to access this life-saving technology.

Despite the impact made by both MANPADS and DIRCM in these wars, when the international commitment to these operations faded, so too did the global attention to the MANPADS threat.

“combined with the increased ir sensitivity of modern manpads, meaning attacks can come from any direction and at greater ranges, the risk of loss has never been higher”

Fast forward to the 2020s and MANPADS are once again in the headlines, being used to great effect in Ukraine despite both sides employing flare decoy techniques. More and more military operators are now recognising that DIRCM technology is a ‘must have’ enabler for freedom of action in contested lower airspace.

How DIRCM Technology Works

IR MANPADS guide to their targets by homing on aircraft heat signatures. Traditional flare decoy countermeasures work simply by creating a brighter/hotter signature to seduce missiles. However, modern MANPADS can distinguish and reject flares, introducing a further problem tosuccessfully defeat. Additionally, flares have a fundamental limitation in that there is a limited supply and so they can run out. Combined with the increased IR sensitivity of modern MANPADS, meaning attacks can come from any direction and at greater ranges, the risk of loss has never been higher.

In order to overcome IR MANPADS’ counter-countermeasures and provide persistent protection, DIRCM technology has come to the fore. A DIRCM uses an accurate laser to disrupta MANPADS ability to start or continue tracking an aircraft’s heat signature. 

All DIRCMs need to be cued by a Missile Warning System which provides both rapid and accurate angular data on missile threats. Once cued, the DIRCM overwhelms the MANPADS seeker with a sudden and huge stream of laser energy, causing it to fail and miss the aircraft. The whole DIRCM process is fully automatic and requires no pilot actions, which is critical because a MANPADS flight is only a few seconds.

Unlike flares, lasers tend not to ‘run out’ – however, depending on the quality of the DIRCM, laser firing time could be limited to only a few seconds. This highlights the fact that DIRCM performance varies from system to system, but the fundamentals of DIRCM capability have always remained the same: the quicker the laser energy is applied the better; the higher that laser energy the better; and a DIRCM system must provide spherical coverage around an aircraft to provide full protection.

Exporting DIRCM Internationally

Drawing on more than 30 years of DIRCM experience, Leonardo offers Miysis DIRCM, the world’s most advanced IR countermeasure system. Designed and produced in the UK, the company counts the Royal Air Force and NATO-based users amongst its customers, but is also able to export this technology to the wider international market. This is notable, given the previous restrictions on the export of DIRCM technology.

Leonardo points out that unlike competing products, Miysis DIRCM can defend against multiple, simultaneous incoming missiles. Its fast and powerful response means the system can also protect against sudden, short-range attacks from the latest generation MANPADS as well as multiple attacks with a laser which can fire continuously. The mantra at Leonardo is ‘Jam Early, Jam Hard’, which reflects those fundamentals of DIRCM capability, namely speed of response and laser energy.

Multiple aircraft types are fitted with Miysis DIRCM. The system has been integrated onto platforms from small rotary wing through to large jets including the Bombardier Global 7500, multiple Dassault Falcon variants, the Beechcraft King Air 350 and Lockheed Martin CP-140 aircraft in addition to Leonardo’s own AW101 and AW139 helicopters.

The company has also exported Miysis to multiple NATO and European customers as well as Middle Eastern countries for use in specialized mission and VVIP / Head of State protection roles. As well as offering the product directly to customers and via partners in both stand-alone and integrated formats, Leonardo is working with multiple aircraft modifiers to install Miysis DIRCM as a low-risk capability enhancement for markets worldwide.

Miysis DIRCM’s compact and lightweight design is suitable for any aircraft, from VVIP and special mission aircraft down to small, uncrewed aircraft performing high value missions. At the same time Miysis DIRCM can deploy a laser that has more than enough energy to protect the largest transport aircraft. The system has been independently verified with UK and international customers conducting extensive analysis and a 100% success rate on live fire trials.

Because Miysis is compatible with multiple Missile Warning Systems (MWS) and is being offered by multiple installers, there is maximum flexibility when it comes to upgrading a self-protection system.