AMERICA’S ARMY WINNING IN A COMPLEX WORLD

ACAT I/III
Common Missile Warning System (CMWS), Laser Detection System (LDS),
Radar Warning Receiver (RWR), Advanced Threat Infrared Countermeasures
(ATIRCM) and Common Infrared Countermeasure (CIRCM) Programs
PEO Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors | Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD
WARFIGHTING
FUNCTION
Mission Command
Movement and Maneuver
Intelligence
Fires
Sustainment
Maneuver Support
and Protection
Engagement
ACQUISITION
LIFECYCLE PHASE
Materiel Solution Analysis
Technology Maturation &
Risk Reduction
Engineering & Manufacturing
Development
Production & Deployment
Operations & Support
MILESTONE DECISION
AUTHORITY
Defense Acquisition Executive
Army Acquisition Executive
Program Executive Officer
DESCRIPTION
The Common Missile Warning System (CMWS) and Advanced Threat
Infrared Countermeasures (ATIRCM) system integrates defensive
infrared (IR) countermeasures capabilities into existing, currentgeneration
aircraft to engage and defeat IR-guided missile threats.
The Army operational requirements concept for IR countermeasures
systems is the Suite of Integrated Infrared Countermeasures (SIIRCM).
The CMWS and ATIRCM programs form the core element of SIIRCM.
CMWS can function as a stand-alone system with the capability to
detect missiles and provide audible and visual warnings to pilots.
When installed with the Advanced IRCM Munitions and improved
countermeasure dispensers, it activates expendables to decoy and defeat
IR-guided missiles.
ATIRCM protects crews and aircraft from advanced threat Man
Portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS) until CIRCM is fielded.
The CIRCM program of record is entering Engineering &
Manufacturing Development (EMD) and is being developed to replace
ATIRCM. CIRCM will be lighter weight and more reliable, and have
more affordable lifecycle costs. It is also designed to operate with
CMWS and future missile warning systems to provide protection for
rotary-wing, tiltrotor and small fixed-wing aircraft across DoD.
BENEFIT TO THE WARFIGHTER
MANPADS are proliferated worldwide and pose a strategic threat to
all DoD rotary-wing and fixed-wing aircraft. Threat detection sensors
are the first step in the detection-and-defeat engagement sequence.
Improving sensor capability and exploiting new sensor technology
translates into seeing the threat sooner and at greater distances, buying
more time for the warfighter to successfully engage with an effective
countermeasure solution. The combination of CIRCM and flares helps
provide a tiered defense for DoD aircraft.
SPECIFICATIONS
Threat detection systems:
• CMWS detects threats in the ultraviolet spectrum, warns pilots
and deploys flares to counter threat
• The Laser Detection System detects laser-guided threats and
warns pilots
• The Radar Warning Receiver detects Radio Frequency (RF)-
emitting and RF-guided threats, and warns pilots
Threat defeat systems:
• CIRCM system, the next generation lightweight laser-based system,
defeats IR-guided MANPAD threats
• ATIRCM, the legacy laser-based infrared countermeasure system,
is fielded only to the CH-47F fleet due to its size, weight and
power requirements
PROGRAM STATUS
• 4QFY13: Integrated onto select fixed-wing platforms
• Current: All aircraft deployed in support of contingency operations
equipped with CMWS prior to deployment; now fielding
Generation 3 Electronic Control Unit (ECU) and Missile Warning
Algorithms for all aircraft
PROJECTED ACTIVITIES
• FY16-FY17:
››
CIRCM Milestone (MS) B Acquisition Decision Milestone signed
and EMD contract awarded for the EMD phase effort
››
ATIRCM: Continue fielding to CH-47D/F; MS C re-approved;
ATIRCM continues as the Army’s most advanced Aircraft
Survivability Equipment system designed to protect Army
aircrews from advanced MANPADS
››
CMWS: Continue fielding Generation 3 ECU
• 2QFY18: CIRCM: MS C
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UNITED STATES ARMY