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2021-11-03

BIRD Aerosystems Successfully Concludes SPREOS Demonstration

BIRD Aerosystems, a global provider of innovative defence technology and solutions that protect the air, sea, and land fleets of governments and related agencies, recently conducted a live firing demonstration of Self Protection Radar Electro-Optic System’s (SPREOS) Directional Infrared Counter Measures (DIRCM) protection against diverse man-portable air-defence systems (MANPADS), proving to defeat 100 per cent of the missiles.

Self-protection for airborne platforms means quickly and reliably knowing whether anyone is targeting the platform for a potential attack. This requires keeping a constant lookout for possible threats while being able to conclusively rule out all false alarms and providing the most enhanced protection against the real threats.

BIRD’s field-proven Airborne Missile Protection System (AMPS) family of solutions is designed to provide total protection in dense and diverse threat environments by protecting crews and aircraft against all known Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAMs), including MANPADS, laser beam rider (LBR) and radar-guided missiles.

Integrated with BIRD’s patented Confirmation and Tracking Sensors, AMPS ensures an unprecedented Zero False Alarm Rate (FAR) along with enhanced protection based on each real threat’s unique characteristics.

With hundreds of aircraft installations, AMPS has been selected to protect a wide range of civil and military platforms used by the U.S. Government, North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) members, United Nations Air Operations and other Air Forces around the world.

As part of the demonstration that was conducted according to a specific customer request, the company had set up a complete test range that included a command and control room, a shooting post, and a simulated aircraft installed with BIRD’s AMPS-MD system including the SPREOS DIRCM.

During the demonstration, MANPADS from different types, including the most advanced ones available today, were shot at the simulated aircraft. The AMPS detection sensors identified the missiles and alerted the Multi-Function Control and Display Unit (MCDU) mission computer, which activated the SPREOS DIRCM. SPREOS then rotated towards the threat and conducted threat confirmation and tracking followed by the deployment of the dual-band countermeasure laser, causing all missiles to miss the simulated aircraft.

Targeting the challenging scenarios of short-range shoots, BIRD’s patented SPREOS DIRCM was activated upon a pre-alarm signal, which caused the SPREOS to rotate towards the threat and activate its Semi-Active Doppler Radar to interrogate and confirm the incoming threat, ensuring a zero False Alarm Rate.

Concurrently, the doppler radar provided information on the incoming threat such as its Radar Cross Section (RCS), Distance, and Velocity, enabling a real-time assessment of the threat’s nature and automatic calculation of the “Time-to-Impact”, a vital indication that was used by the AMPS system to ensure optimal protection tailored to defeat each specific threat that was fired on the aircraft.

Ronen Factor, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Founder at BIRD Aerosystems, explained: “Our unique and patented concept of using a Doppler radar to confirm and track the threat that was introduced to the market by BIRD has proved itself, as the SPREOS defeated 100 per cent of the missiles, demonstrating its efficiency and the strong operational added value it brings to our customers.”

Advanced System

SPREOS is an advanced DIRCM system that provides enhanced protection against MANPADS for a wide range of airborne platforms ranging from small helicopters to large transport aircraft. It offers threat confirmation, tracking and jamming for IR-guided missiles within a single line replaceable unit (LRU).

SPREOS receives a pre-alarm, slews towards the direction of the threat, activates its semi-active radar to confirm and track the threat while analysing its unique characteristics (velocity, distance, position, and radar cross section) to enable the most effective jamming response.

Following the confirmation and tracking, SPREOS deploys its dual-band counter-measure laser to jam the threat while continually performing kill assessment by monitoring the threat and a real-time assessment whether it has been defeated and confirming the effectiveness of the laser and flare protection.
Recently, BIRD Aerosystems signed a new contract for SPREOS DIRCM delivery and AMPS certification on Airbus 320.

The complete AMPS-MD system, including the SPREOS, will be installed into BIRD’s all-in-one AeroShield POD, which is an all-in-one Pod solution that supports the installation of BIRD’s AMPS on narrow and wide-body aircraft.

It will be certified on the customer A-320 aircraft in collaboration with Airbus France, the aircraft Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), achieving a supplemental type certificate (STC) for the system installation on the aircraft.

The AeroShield pod offers comprehensive anti-missile protection by uniquely using both BIRD’s SPREOS DIRCM and Flares, and enabling customers to fly fully protected in the most challenging theatres.

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