OZDIRCM faces key trial

1 September 2007

By Julian Kerr

Yet again, Australia has developed a new piece of Electronic Warfare (EW) equipment which leads the world and has potentially wide applications. Industry, and especially Tenix, is hoping for further support from Defence for the OZDIRCM system

Flight tests late this year of an Australian-developed miniature directed infrared countermeasures (DIRCM) system may determine whether substantial funding is invested to further develop the technology to protect ADF helicopters and other platforms against heat-seeking missiles.

OZDIRCM, developed by the DSTO and its contractor Electronic Systems Division of Tenix Defence at Edinburgh, on the outskirts of Adelaide, consists of a unique, non-retractable, grapefruit-sized turret with its laser generator and associated hardware fitted inside the host aircraft.

The system uses the MURLIN (Multi-band Research Laser Infra-red) solid-state laser utilised in DIRCM research lead by the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) and technology transferred to Tenix Defence for engineering development.

MURLIN generates multiple, simultaneous laser-spectral lines within the infra-red “transmission window” in which an attacking missile’s heat-seeking sensors see their target, overwhelming the sensors with laser radiation and causing the missile to veer harmlessly away.

A conventional DIRCM system, such as the Northrop Grumman NEMESIS suite which will equip the RAAF’s six Wedgetail AEW&C aircraft, its four C-17 strategic transports and five multi-role tanker aircraft, includes a controller, a missile approach warning system, a tracking system, a turret, and a laser. Each complete unit is understood to cost close to $10 million.

Uniquely, OZDIRCM has integrated many of these functions by using a single optical path both for shining the laser at an approaching missile, and for receiving signal images back from the missile. This saves a significant amount of power, weight, and cost.

Funding the $2 million involved in OZDIRCM development to date has been shared by the New Air Combat Capability (NACC) Office in Defence’s Capability Development Group, the Capability Development Executive, and the Defence Materiel Organisation via the Airborne Self-Protection Office.

The flight tests will involve a pod-mounted OZDIRCM unit on a Learjet 35. The trials are intended to demonstrate the system’s ability to lase ground-based targets after being cued by the integrated EADS AAR-60 missile approach warning system, which is also fitted to Australia’s Tiger Armed Reconnaissance helicopters.

Both industry and Defence sources are united in their praise of what has been achieved to date from a relatively small investment.

Defence sources said OZDIRCM had already successfully capitalised on the MURLIN research carried out as part of Project Arrangement 10. This was a six-year program for collaborative research, development and engineering on next-generation aircraft survivability technologies between DSTO and the US Army’s Communications and Electronics Development and Engineering Centre.

Work to date had produced technology trade goods that could be used for future collaborative programs.

Additionally, NACC’s requirement had been met by development of the turret. This has been designed to be independent of the laser used, allowing either the current MURLIN laser or future technology lasers to be used as the power source.

Separate research by DSTO is currently being funded through Defence’s Capability and Technology (CTD) program on the development of a fibre laser – the so-called F-Murlin – and a new fibre optic distribution system. The primary advantages of fibre lasers are their superior beam quality, greatly reduced footprint, and reduced maintenance.

A Defence source familiar with the project said the primary attraction of OZDIRCM was its potential as a lightweight, low-cost anti-missile defence for helicopters, although there was no reason why its deployment could not be broadened. No decision had yet been taken on the anti-missile fit for the RAAF’s fleet of 12 C-130J transports, for example.

In addition, the Airborne Self-Protection Office is conducting a study on the feasibility of a pod-mounted OZDIRCM for helicopters.

Full-scale engineering development could cost anywhere between $20- $40 million, although such work would probably be undertaken through a collaborative arrangement, possibly with the US

Defence sources said successfully matching the F-Murlin with OZDIRCM would provide a low-cost, compact DIRCM for the ADF that would lead the world.