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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
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=
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>
▲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|url=http://www.army.mil/article/43929/|publisher=United States Army|accessdate=6 September 2011}}</ref> Currently, systems by [[BAE Systems]], [http://es.itt.com/circm/ ITT Corporation's Defense and Information Solutions], (now ITT Exelis) [[Northrop Grumman]] and [[Raytheon]] are under consideration.<ref>{{cite web|title=Request for Information - Common Infrared Countermeasure (CIRCM) Program|url=https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&tab=core&id=c2e3412e9db20183d6581810bae29979&cck=1&au=&ck=|publisher=United States General Services Administration - Federal Business Opporunities|accessdate=29 August 2011}}</ref>
{{Main|Infrared countermeasure}}
Infrared guidance systems in heat-seeking missiles are designed to track strong sources of infrared radiation – heat – such as aircraft engines, helping missiles to home in on their targets. IRCM systems are based on a modulated source of infrared radiation with a higher intensity than the target itself. When a [[missile seeker]] observes this modulated radiation, it interferes with or obscures the modulated signal from the aircraft and renders the missile incapable of maintaining a lock on the target.
=== Directional Infrared Countermeasures (DIRCM) === ▼
{{Main article|Directional Infrared Counter Measures}}
Directional IRCM, or [[DIRCM]], allows for a countermeasures laser to be targeted directly at an incoming IR threat. This makes possible a more powerful and effective defense than previous, non-directional infrared countermeasures, as the threat is directly addressed rather than the system essentially painting an area with IR disruption, which results in a weaker signal in any given direction.
As IR seeking technology has improved and diversified, standard [[IRCM]] systems have become less effective at defeating heat-seeking missiles.
== CIRCM
CIRCM was authorized in April 2009 by the U.S. Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics (USD (AT&L)), as a next generation program to replace the combined Advanced Threat Infrared Countermeasures/Common Missile Warning System (ATIRCM/CMWS) program. The program was designated as an Acquisition Category (ACAT) 1D program, also in April 2009.<ref>{{cite web|title=DOTE FY09 Annual Report - Army Programs (pp.55-56)|url=http://www.dote.osd.mil/pub/reports/FY2009/pdf/other/2009DOTEAnnualReport.pdf|publisher=Director, Operational Test and Evaluation - US Department of Defense|accessdate=29 August 2011}}</ref>
The CIRCM system, (along with the older LAIRCM and ATIRCM systems) provide a directional infrared countermeasure, which employs both threat-tracking capabilities, as well defensive measures employing modulating laser pulses to confuse missiles' guidance systems causing them to miss their target.
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The Army issued a draft request for proposals for the CIRCM contract in May 2009, opening the competitive phase for a deal to develop and install the missile jammer on thousands of helicopters and tiltrotors in US military inventory.
The winning contractor will
[[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
▲= Current Systems in Operation =
▲The CIRCM system is intended to be an improved, lighter-weight version of the ATIRCM system. The program aims to capitalize on lessons learned from the failed ATIRCM technology. 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|url=http://www.army.mil/article/43929/|publisher=United States Army|accessdate=6 September 2011}}</ref>
== Advanced Threat Infrared Countermeasures (ATIRCM) ==
Advanced Threat Infrared Countermeasures, or ATIRCM, is the most recent attempt at an infrared countermeasures capability.
The [[
▲ATIRCM failed during aerial cable range tests in 2004, according to Army documents, and 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>
In a June 2010 letter to Representative [[Ike Skelton]], D-Mo., Carter explained how restructuring the ATIRCM/CMWS program caused a breach of the Nunn-McCurdy statute, since, when military officials determined the ATIRCM system to be too heavy for any helicopter except the CH-47, the purchase quantity had to be substantially reduced - down to 83 units. This caused the unit cost to rise
▲=== ATIRCM Nunn-McCurdy Breach ===
▲The [[Nunn-McCurdy]] provision introduced in 1982 by Senator [[Sam Nunn]] and Congressman [[Dave McCurdy]] requires that any defense program that increases in cost by more than 15% over its acquisition cycle must be reported to Congress and either restructured or fully explained by the Office of the Secretary of Defense. In June of 2010, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Dr. Ashton Carter made such a report on the ATIRCM program.<ref>{{cite web|last=Brannen|first=Kate|title=DoD: Too Late for ATIRCM Alternatives|url=http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=4653137|publisher=Defense News|accessdate=7 September 2011}}</ref>
The [[United States Department of the Navy|Department of the Navy]] (DoN) also operates an infrared countermeasures program called LAIRCM, which is fielded exclusively on large fixed-wing aircraft, and uses a laser pointer-tracker to defeat IR-guided threats.<ref>{{cite web|last=O'Brien|first=William|title=Testing puts LAIRCM on target to protect tankers|url=http://assets.mediaspanonline.com/prod/5979225/ede_03042011A20.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120920085929/http://assets.mediaspanonline.com/prod/5979225/ede_03042011A20.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 September 2012|publisher=Desert Eagle, for Edwards Air Force Base|accessdate=29 August 2011}}</ref> ▼
▲In a June 2010 letter to Representative [[Ike Skelton]], D-Mo., Carter explained how restructuring the ATIRCM/CMWS program caused a breach of the Nunn-McCurdy statute, since, when military officials determined the ATIRCM system to be too heavy for any helicopter except the CH-47, the purchase quantity had to be substantially reduced - down to 83 units. This caused the unit cost to rise significantly above Nunn-McCurdy limits.<ref>{{cite web|last=Brannen|first=Kate|title=DoD: Too Late for ATIRCM Alternatives|url=http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=4653137|publisher=Defense News|accessdate=7 September 2011}}</ref> "Due to reliability, cost, and weight issues, I have limited the production and fielding of the ATIRCM subprogram to 83 fully configured end items in order to address a validated urgent operational need for CH-47 helicopters operating in Overseas Contingency Operations" Carter wrote in his letter to Skelton.<ref>{{cite web|last=Brannen|first=Kate|title=DoD: Too Late for ATIRCM Alternatives|url=http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=4653137|publisher=Defense News|accessdate=7 September 2011}}</ref> As part of the Nunn-McCurdy certification process, in which the Pentagon explains the cost growth to Congress and reaffirms why the program is still essential to national security, officials have to show that lower-cost alternatives are not available. This is partly why the DoD has stipulated that the CIRCM system will need to integrate with existing and future detection systems while also dramatically reducing unit weight.
LAIRCM systems such as the AAQ-24, delivered to the DoN by Northrop Grumman, are directed IR countermeasures designed to defend large fixed-wing aircraft from IR-guided threats. LAIRCM was devised to protect planes by automatically detecting missile launches and activating a high-intensity system of pulsed lasers to track and defeat the threat by confusing its guidance system.<ref>{{cite web|last=O'Brien|first=William|title=Testing puts LAIRCM on target to protect tankers|url=http://assets.mediaspanonline.com/prod/5979225/ede_03042011A20.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120920085929/http://assets.mediaspanonline.com/prod/5979225/ede_03042011A20.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 September 2012|publisher=Desert Eagle, for Edwards Air Force Base|accessdate=29 August 2011}}</ref>
▲== Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) ==
== Integration with the Common Missile Warning System (CMWS) ==▼
▲The [[Department of the Navy]] (DoN) also operates an infrared countermeasures program called LAIRCM, which is fielded exclusively on large fixed-wing aircraft, and uses a laser pointer-tracker to defeat IR-guided threats.<ref>{{cite web|last=O'Brien|first=William|title=Testing puts LAIRCM on target to protect tankers|url=http://assets.mediaspanonline.com/prod/5979225/ede_03042011A20.pdf|publisher=Desert Eagle, for Edwards Air Force Base|accessdate=29 August 2011}}</ref>
▲= Integration with the Common Missile Warning System (CMWS) =
As of the end of 2009, the production CMWS, coupled with chaff/flare dispensers was deployed on approximately 1,000 Army CH-47 Chinooks, UH-60 Blackhawks, [[AH-64]] Apaches, [R]C-12 Hurons, [[Cessna Citation V|UC-35]] Citations and [[C-23 Sherpa|C-23]] Sherpa Aircraft.<ref>{{cite web|title=DOTE FY09 Annual Report - Army Programs (pp.55-56)|url=http://www.dote.osd.mil/pub/reports/FY2009/pdf/other/2009DOTEAnnualReport.pdf|publisher=Director, Operational Test and Evaluation - US Department of Defense|accessdate=29 August 2011}}</ref>
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In the future, the military will utilize the integrated CMWS/CIRCM suite to enhance threat warning and improve defensive countermeasures for helicopters and small, slow-moving fixed-wing aircraft, whose size precludes the use of LAIRCM. The systems will protect aircraft and crews from shoulder-fired, vehicle-launched, and other advanced infrared-guided missile threats during dangerous low-altitude operations.<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>
CIRCM will integrate with CMWS, which will identify an incoming threat (i.e. whether it is a missile or tracer fire, etc.), and then integrate with
== Additional CIRCM
The DoD requires that CIRCM implement a Modular Open System Approach (MOSA) to integrate jamming lasers, missile trackers and missile warning receivers.<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>
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US military helicopter losses to MANPAD systems prompted Army Aviation to field the BAE Systems AAR-57 Common Missile Warning System (CMWS), to locate incoming missiles accurately. The Navy is continuing development of JATAS to integrate Missile Warning Receiver, Hostile Fire Indicator and Laser Warning Receiver functions. MOSA interfaces will make it possible for CIRCM to take cues from either warning system. It is important for reasons of expediency and cost that when a CIRCM system is chosen and fielded on US aircraft, it is backward compatible with CMWS, and forward compatible with JATAS, according to Army Lt. Col. Raymond Pickering, product manager for infrared countermeasures at the Program Executive Office-Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors ([[PEO IEWS]]).<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>
The program is currently in the technology
==See also==
*[[List of military electronics of the United States]]
*[[Joint Electronics Type Designation System]]
== References ==
<references />
[[Category:Infrared imaging]]
[[Category:Missile countermeasures]]
[[Category:Electronic countermeasures]]
[[Category:Electronic warfare equipment]]
[[Category:Military electronics of the United States]]
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