A tool for infrared countermeasures assessment

Abstract

Analysts at the National Air Intelligence Center (NAIC) require a tool to help them assess the effectiveness of infrared countermeasures (IRCM) in an engagement scenario. The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) continues to develop a software tool to aid NAIC analysts with their assessments, which has grown into the Advanced IRCM Assessment Model (AIRSAM). AIRSAM includes user configurable models for various systems. It also incorporates generic missile infrared (IR) seekers, so that the analyst can set the conditions for flare detection and apply some general techniques for counter-countermeasures. AIRSAM includes a generic missile warning receiver (MWR) that allows analysts to place sensors on the aircraft structure, define the viewing parameters for the sensors, and implement missile detection algorithms. An external flare toolkit allows analysts to design and implement flares into AIRSAM. Current work focuses on developing similar functionality for an airborne laser countermeasure system. This model will be limited to assessments of high energy laser illumination on sensors with the intent of temporarily impairing to permanently damaging them. Four sensor types are being added which are the aircrew eye, forward looking infrared receiver (FLIR), solid state arrays, and reticle systems. The analyst will be able to enter user defined parameters, then define an engagement scenario for these devices and perform simulations to assess how effective the countermeasure system is against the sensor.