Abstract
http://dx.doi.org/10.5028/jatm.v5i4.267Directed Infrared Countermeasures (DIRCM) are used to protect aircrafts against missiles with infrared (IR) guidance. They are employed by military and civilian aircrafts, drawing away the guidance system of a missile as it attempts to lock onto the IR signature of the turbines. Unfortunately, the protection provided by these devices generates risks and challenges that must be overcome. In this paper, investigations on DIRCM risks to fighter aircraft pilots are carried out. Different kinds of lasers employed in actual DIRCMs are analyzed and the results show that, depending on their frequency (wavelength), damages can occur up to a distance of 4.8 km. The transmittance through the canopy of an F-5 fighter aircraft is evaluated and its effects on the IR propagation are predicted by the use of software called Counter-Measurements in PYTHON (CMePy). Results show that, even when there are interfaces between the pilot and the source of radiation, damages can occur, showing the importance of this investigation to the right understanding of this subject and future mitigations.
Highlights
Directed Infrared Countermeasures (DIRCM) are used to protect aircrafts against missiles with infrared (IR) guidance
There has been a trend for military and for civilian aircrafts to be equipped with some kind of countermeasure that can draw away the guidance system of a missile as it attempts to lock onto the infrared (IR) signature of the turbines of the aircraft
This paper shows a study made by the Electronic Warfare Laboratory (LAB-GE), at Technological Institute of Aeronautics (ITA), Brazil, concerning to the IR and visible radiation risks to the pilot’s health and the protection provided by aircraft canopies
Summary
Investigations on Directed Infrared Countermeasures Risks to Fighter Aircraft Pilots 389. Further discussion on the electromagnetic spectrum leads to a “big picture” of the environment where the pilot operates and the risks to which he is submitted
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have