Turkey wants to equip its anti -missile lasers helicopters

To defend themselves against missiles, helicopters have several countermeasures. The devices are notably endowed with detection systems which allow them to attempt avoidance maneuvers, as well as lures which give off heat in order to deceive the thermal guidance systems of the missiles.

However, Turkey wishes to provide its helicopters and military planes with a new option: the laser. The idea is not to destroy the missile with an extremely powerful laser. It would not be possible at all. Such a system would be both very heavy and very energy -consuming, which would make it unthinkable on these aircraft. But against missiles, it is not necessary. Rather than destroy them, just blind them.

New generation optical countermeasures

The Turkish defense company ASELSAN has just announced that it has conducted tests in real conditions of its new directed infrared countermeasures (DIRCM), baptized Yildirim 100. It takes the form of a small ball on a turret, capable of detecting and neutralizing the 360 degree targets. The system is equipped with two turrets, each with a multispectral laser. The Yildirim 100 aims at the infrared missile detection systems to neutralize them. A quick and low consumption solution.

Conclting tests for the Turkish DIRCM system

Aselsan indicates that he was able to neutralize several infrared missiles during the test, dazzling the infrared sensors. According to the manufacturer, it is able to detect, follow and neutralize several targets simultaneously. It is not the first time that a laser has been used in this way. Its origins date back over 40, from the War of the Falklands in the 1980s, but at the time the laser was led by an operator against a pilot. From now on, it is a confrontation between two fully automated systems.

The Yildirim 100 can be installed on many airplanes and helicopters, and is compatible with different detection systems to start infrared and ultraviolet missiles. Aselsan also works on another system, Yildirim 300, which would be more powerful and faster, in order to be more suitable for fighter planes.

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