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THE
Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) has successfully
tested the first Australian-built multi-band solid-state laser
capable of jamming infrared (IR) missile seekers.
This technology is a step forward in protecting future ADF aircraft
from current and next generation missile threats.
The latest test, conducted at DSTO’s infra-red countermeasures
laboratory at RAAF Base Edinburgh demonstrated that the solid-state
laser could quickly jam an infrared missile.
DSTO scientists Dr David Lancaster and Dr Miro Dubovinsky had
planned a three-day integration test of the laser, but effective
jamming occurred while the system was being aligned on the first
day.
Infrared guided missiles (otherwise known as heat-seekers) use
a passive infrared seeker to lock on to an aircraft’s engine
heat.
Unlike a radar-guided missile, it does not emit radio waves in
order to “see” its target. The DSTO-designed laser,
known as MURLIN (Multi-band Research Laser Infrared), counters
the infrared missiles by confusing their tracking systems with
jamming codes.
The Director of DSTO’s Systems Sciences Laboratory, Dr Nanda
Nandagopal, said the continuing development of improved and smarter
target acquisition systems made it necessary to continuously develop
new countermeasure systems.
“Laser-based Directed Infra-red Countermeasure (DIRCM) jamming
systems, such as the DSTO system, are at the leading edge of technology
for protecting aircraft against advanced air-to-air and surface-to-air
infrared weapon systems,” he said.
The DSTO research forms part of Project Arrangement 10, which
is a six-year program for collaborative research, development
and engineering between the Australian Department of Defence and
the US Army on next generation aircraft survivability technologies.
DSTO is also working in collaborative programs to improve the
power, effectiveness and reliability of the lasers, and laser
distribution techniques in DIRCM systems.
The new Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft
(AEW&C) will be the first ADF aircraft to be fitted with a
DIRCM jamming system.
