Common Infrared Countermeasures program: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Laser-based infrared protection system}}

CIRCM, the '''Common [[Infrared countermeasure|Infrared Countermeasures]] program''', is a [[United States Army]] initiative intended to develop a lightweight, low-cost and modular laser-based infrared protection system for U.S. helicopters and light fixed-wing aircraft. The technology will primarily provide defense against shoulder-fired, [[heat-seeking missile]]s, or [[MANPADS]]. The program is being developed to replace older suites such as the Advanced Threat Infrared Countermeasures (ATIRCM).

The CIRCM system will be designed to meet Tri-Service "common" Army, Navy, and Air Force requirements. The [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]]’s (DoD) strategy is to competitively develop a lightweight and cost-effective jammer subsystem for installation on all DoD rotary-wing and slow moving fixed-wing aircraft.<ref>{{cite web|last=Osborn|first=Kris|title=Army Improving Helicopter Protective Measures|date=19 August 2010 |url=httphttps://www.army.mil/article/43929/|publisher=United States Army|accessdateaccess-date=6 September 2011}}</ref>

The Army took delivery of its first CIRCM systems from [[Northrop Grumman]] in 2016.<ref>{{cite web|title=Northrop Grumman Delivers First CIRCM Systems to US Army|url=http://news.northropgrumman.com/news/releases/northrop-grumman-delivers-first-circm-systems-to-us-army|publisher=Northrop Grumman}}</ref>

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== Current systems in operation ==

[[File:Northrop CIRCM on US-Army UH-60M at ILA-2022.jpg|thumb|Northrop Grumman pointer/tracker of CIRCM on UH-60M Black Hawk]]

The CIRCM system is intended to be an improved, lighter-weight version of the ATIRCM system. CIRCM lowers the weight of the system and therefore brings with it the opportunity to deploy this kind of laser counter-measure across a wider portion of the fleet.<ref>{{cite web|last=Osborn|first=Kris|title=Army Improving Helicopter Protective Measures|date=19 August 2010 |url=httphttps://www.army.mil/article/43929/|publisher=United States Army|accessdateaccess-date=6 September 2011}}</ref> Northrop Grumman has delivered over 250 CIRCM systems to the U.S. Army by March 2023.<ref>{{cite web|last=D'Urso|first=Stefano|title=A Very Close Look At The Anti-Missile System That Will Equip 1,500+ US Army Helicopters|date=3 March 2023 |url=https://theaviationist.com/2023/03/03/a-very-close-look-at-the-anti-missile-system-that-will-equip-1500-us-army-helicopters/|publisher=The Aviationist|accessdate=1 June 2024}}</ref>

== Advanced Threat Infrared Countermeasures (ATIRCM) ==

Advanced Threat Infrared Countermeasures, or ATIRCM, is the most recent attempt at an infrared countermeasures capability. The Army began fielding the ATIRCM Quick Reaction Capability (QRC) system on 83 CH-47s supporting operations in Iraq and Afghanistan in 2009. The USD (AT&L) limited the ATIRCM QRC program to these specific aircraft, due to the current combined weight of the ATIRCM/CMWS suite. DoD planners set the CIRCM target weight at 85 pounds for the jamming B-kit with two turrets, while the supporting A-kit is capped at 70 pounds for large rotorcraft like the Chinook and [[V-22 Osprey]] tiltrotor, or 35 pounds for smaller helicopters like the Black Hawk.<ref>{{cite web|last=Colucci|first=Frank|title=Common Countermeasures|url=http://www.aviationtoday.com/av/issue/feature/Common-Countermeasures_71251.html|publisher=Avionics Magazine Online|accessdate=29 August 2011}}</ref>

Service officials have said they want to field a cheaper, lighter system for their remaining helicopters, which will integrate smoothly with systems like CMWS and the Joint and Allied Threat Awareness System (JATAS), across all branches of the military.<ref>{{cite web|last=Malenic|first=Marina|title=Firms Eye Helo Protection Contract As Army Seeks New Low-Cost Solution|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_6712/is_17_248/ai_n56366701/|publisher=CBS Interactive Business Network|accessdate=2 September 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Suite of Infrared Countermeasures [SIIRCM]|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/systems/siircm-program.htm|publisher=GlobalSecurity.org|accessdate=7 September 2011}}</ref>

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The program is currently in the technology demonstration phase.

==See also==

*[[List of military electronics of the United States]]

*[[Joint Electronics Type Designation System]]

== References ==

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[[Category:Infrared imaging]]

[[Category:Missile countermeasures]]

[[Category:Electronic countermeasures]]

[[Category:Electronic warfare equipment]]

[[Category:Military electronics of the United States]]