Tactical Life Gun Magazine: Gun News and Gun Reviews
  • News
  • Guns
    • Rifles
    • Handguns
    • Shotguns
    • Special Weapons
  • Gear
    • Accessories
    • Ammo
    • Holsters
    • Knives
    • Optics & Sights
    • Suppressors
  • Lifestyle
    • Culture
    • Military & Police
    • Tactics & Training
  • Videos
No Result
View All Result
Tactical Life Gun Magazine: Gun News and Gun Reviews
  • News
  • Guns
    • Rifles
    • Handguns
    • Shotguns
    • Special Weapons
  • Gear
    • Accessories
    • Ammo
    • Holsters
    • Knives
    • Optics & Sights
    • Suppressors
  • Lifestyle
    • Culture
    • Military & Police
    • Tactics & Training
  • Videos
No Result
View All Result
Tactical Life Gun Magazine: Gun News and Gun Reviews
No Result
View All Result
 
FREE GUN FRIDAY > Enter to WIN the Ruger PC Charger & PC Carbine, Ammo from Black Hills and the Caldwell Portable Range Kit!

Army Continues Progress with Laser-Based CIRCM System

Tactical-Life by Tactical-Life
March 30, 2015
in News
0
U.S. Army Laser-Based CIRCM System helicopter
0
SHARES
0
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
The following is a release from C. Todd Lopez and the U.S. Army:

The Army expects later this year to reach a Milestone B decision with its laser-based common infrared countermeasures, or CIRCM, defense system program.

The CIRCM system, under development now by both BAE and Northrup Grumman, provides a light-weight, laser-based countermeasure against man-portable air defense systems, which are missile launched from the ground at their targets — including Army and Navy aircraft.

“My No. 1 priority as a project manager is to protect our Soldiers lives — in this case, aviators and their passengers — against the current threats out there,” said Col. Jong H. Lee, project manager for Aircraft Survivability Equipment. “The common infrared countermeasures program is going to do that. It will increase protection of our Service members against an ever-evolving threats.”

It is expected that the CIRCM system will begin fielding in Fiscal Year 2019 to both the Army and the Navy, and will be used aboard helicopters, tilt-rotor aircraft, and small fixed-wing aircraft.

Included among those aircrafts are the AH-64 Apache and the UH-60 Black Hawk. Within the Department of the Navy — a partner in the CIRCM program — the AH-1 Cobra will receive the system, as will the MV-22 Osprey. In the future, Lee said, the Advanced Threat Infrared Countermeasures system aboard the CH-47 Chinook will be replaced with the CIRCM as well.

Lee said the primary threat CIRCM is meant to address is Man-portable air-defense system, also known as MANPADS, which are in use worldwide by both nation states as well as non-state actors.

The CIRCM works in conjunction with the Army’s existing Common Missile Warning System aboard aircraft now. The CMWS can detect an incoming threat from a MANPADS and automatically pass relevant information about that threat to the CIRCM system.

CIRCM works in combination with the missile warning system to detect and defeat MANPADS.

Missiles launched from MANPADS are typically guided by infrared capability, Lee said. The missiles guide themselves toward a target’s infrared heat signature. The laser that is part of the CIRCM system takes advantage of that.

Insofar, as pilot interaction is concerned, Lee said the entire system is automatic. “They only have to turn it on,” Lee said. “It’s meant to be fully automatic. It really makes it an extremely valuable system for the pilots and the passengers.”

Lee said the CIRCM system primarily includes three components: a pointer/tracker unit, laser, and system processor unit. These three primary pieces of hardware are part of what Lee said is called the “B-Kit” portion of CIRCM.

The system also includes what is being called an “A-Kit.” The A-Kit portion includes the wiring and harnesses that must be installed in an aircraft before the B-KIT can be installed.

Approximately 3,000 A-Kits will be purchased and installed in Army aircraft, Lee said, while 1,000 B-Kits will be purchased.

Lee said it takes “several hundred hours” to install an A-Kit into an aircraft, while it takes only a few hours to install the B-Kits in an aircraft if the A-Kits have already been installed.

With this configuration, he said, it will be easy to move the B-Kit hardware — the primary system hardware — from one A-Kit-equipped aircraft to another. This means that aircraft can be easily equipped with the CIRCM system if it is needed for a mission, or the system can be removed and used elsewhere if an aircraft does not need it.

“We want to make sure we have the ability to deploy, and move the B-Kits around. We are doing that with other systems too, such as with the CH-47 ATIRCM [advanced threat infrared countermeasures],” Lee said.

UNLIMITED ROUNDS

Lee said the biggest difference between CIRCM and other counter-measure systems currently in use — including the ATIRCM — is that CIRCM is so light weight. The B-Kit portion of the system weighs just 85 pounds, he said. And the Army is working with contractors to reduce the weight of the A-Kits as well.

“That’s a really big factor,” Lee said. “A lot of our Army aircraft don’t have excess space or capacity. We wanted to make sure we provide a lightweight system that provides great protection against these threats out there.”

He said that both the ATIRCM — used now on the CH-47 Chinook — and the large aircraft infrared countermeasures systems, used by the Air Force, are too large for some of the aircraft the Army wants to protect with the CIRCM system.

Also, he said, the CIRCM system is designed with open systems architecture to be easily expanded, to take on more threats than what exist today.

“Because of the way we designed the system as being open architecture, it allows us to have growth for emerging threats,” he said.

He also said that while the Army already has countermeasures onboard aircraft, CIRCM will offer a more robust level of protection.

“With a laser system, you have unlimited rounds you can dispense against threats,” Lee said. “Also, it’s a lot more agile in allowing us to adapt to the threats. It gives us an opportunity to provide increased protection, but also the ability to be adaptable to future threats.”

CIRCM FUTURE

Right now, Lee said, development of CIRCM has passed a “Milestone A” decision and is in the technology maturation and risk-reduction phase, during which time the cost risks associated with technology, engineering, integration, and life cycle are reduced. During this phase, the CIRCM must also reach “technology readiness level 6.” This will allow the program to successfully pass a “Milestone B” decision.

When Milestone B is reached, the program will award a contract for the “engineering and manufacturing development phase” to just one contractor — eliminating one of the current two contractors from competition.

“That phase is to develop, build and test a product to verify it meets requirements — documented requirements,” Lee said.

The Milestone B decision is expected to be made in within this Fiscal Year.

A Milestone C decision will mark entry into low-rate initial production. The Milestone C decision is expected to happen in Fiscal Year 2017.

Didn't find what you were looking for?

CLICK HERE FOR COMMENTS

RELATED POSTS

Max Michel at the USPSA area 3 championship

2022 USPSA Area 3 Championship Results: Showdown in the Heartland

The Beretta American Defender program offers discounts to first responders

Beretta American Defender Program Offers Discounts for First Responders

Air Force OSI Selects Glock

Air Force OSI Selects Glocks for New Duty Pistol

Black Rifle Coffee Company is joining forces with The Terminal List, starring Chris Pratt

Black Rifle Coffee Company and The Terminal List

Load More

TACTICAL-LIFE ARTICLE PAGE VIDEO

Discussion about this post

FEATURED POST

Max Michel at the USPSA area 3 championship

2022 USPSA Area 3 Championship Results: Showdown in the Heartland

The USPSA Area 3 Championship occupies a unique place in the competition calendar. The match is well-known for its often...

Read more

TRENDING

ATF Agent James Burk sued Columbus police, excessive force, reup

VIDEO: ATF Agent James Burk Tased by Columbus Police, Files Suit

...

Mossberg 590 Shockwave review for home defense myths

4 Home Defense Myths You Need to Stop Repeating

...

The Dicken Drill is named for Eli Dicken who saved many lives in the Greenwood Mall

The Elisjsha Dicken Drill

...

what are the best revolvers for home defense

Best Revolvers for Home Defense [2022]

...

PICK A CATEGORY

TACTICS & TRAINING SPOTLIGHT

Mossberg 590 Shockwave review for home defense myths

4 Home Defense Myths You Need to Stop Repeating

We cover home defense related issues a lot here on Tactical Life. Whether it's using a revolver for home defense,...

TACTICS & TRAINING SHOWCASE

The Dicken Drill is named for Eli Dicken who saved many lives in the Greenwood Mall

The Elisjsha Dicken Drill

You've got your concealed carry gun on you and get stopped by the cops. What do you do next?

What to Do When Pulled Over with a Concealed Carry

If you're serious about learning tactics for stopping an active shooter, you have to train hard

Tactics for Stopping an Active Shooter

it's important to know concealed carry laws by state

Concealed Carry Laws by State

Gun cleaning gunk 5000 rounds

Gun Cleaning: 5 Reasons Why You Need to Clean Your Firearms

learning the art of clearing pistol malfunctions could save your life

Clearing Pistol Malfunctions: A Lifesaving Self Defense Skill

Top 10 Lifesaving Concealed Carry Tips for 2022

Top 10 Lifesaving Concealed Carry Tips for 2022

Stippling a handgun

6 Steps to Stippling a Gun for Beginners

What Are NFA Trusts?

What Are NFA Trusts?

site logo
Tactical Life Gun Magazine: Gun news, gun reviews and gun magazines for gun enthusiasts, military and law enforcement
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • California Privacy Notice
  • Cookie Policy
© Athlon Outdoors, All Rights Reserved.
You use of this website constitutes and manifests your acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, and awareness of the California Privacy Rights. Pursuant to U.S. Copyright law, as well as other applicable federal and state laws, the content on this website may not be reproduced, distributed, displayed, transmitted, cached, or otherwise used, without the prior, express, and written permission of Athlon Outdoors.

Manage your GDPR consents by clicking here. Manage your CCPA consents by clicking here.
No Result
View All Result
  • Guns
    • Rifles
    • Handguns
    • Shotguns
  • Knives
  • Gear
    • Holsters
    • Optics & Sights
    • Accessories
    • Ammo
    • Suppressors
  • Military & Police
  • News
  • Tactics & Training
  • Videos
    • LATEST VIDEOS
    • FREE GUN FRIDAY
    • RELOADING ZONE
    • SCCY Branded Videos
  • Publications
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us

© 2022 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.