The Defense Ministry's Defense Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) commissioned Leonardo and Thales to demonstrate, during a test campaign that will take place in the early months of 2018, of an avionic infrared protection system that the two companies are doing together.
Currently, development activities are under way to integrate two of the most advanced products in the companies: Thales's "Elix-IR" alert system and Leonardo's "Miysis" DIRCM (Directed Infra-Red Counter-Measure) system. The solution proposed by Leonardo and Thales will provide complete antimissile defense for civilian and military platforms, from small helicopters to major VIP platforms and troop transport.
Leonardo and Thales are currently integrating the two systems with the aim of optimizing time between alert and threat neutralization. In practice, this means that when a hostile missile is launched on a platform equipped with Thales-Leonardo's integrated solution, the Elix-IR system detects, monitors, classifies and defines the missile as a threat, quickly sending a warning to the Miysis system.
Miysis can then trace the incoming threat and carefully direct a high-energy laser to the missile seeker, confusing the driving system, and quickly deflecting the missile trajectory far from the platform. Elix-IR will continue to trace the hostile missile throughout the engagement with Miysis.
The threats detected and counterbalanced by the solution include Man-Portable Air Defense Systems, or MANPADS, that is, very popular and economical thermal missiles, in addition to newer and more difficult-to-locate generation types, against which countermeasures flare on the sun they are increasingly ineffective.
Both Elix ‐ IR and Miysis have been extensively tested and their effectiveness demonstrated during testing. Leonardo's Miysis DIRCM was tested during NATO's EMBOX XIV exercise in 2014, when it recorded a 100% success against generation 1, 2 and 3 MANPADS using NATO jam codes. Flight tests at Pendine Ranges and previous static tests have successfully demonstrated the performance of Thales' Elix-IR in complex combat environments, identifying all the threats presented during the tests, including some that had challenged the previous ones. enemy fire detection systems.
Under the agreements, the UK Ministry of Defense funding funds will fund the laboratory tests and the integrated system field in the early months of the 2018, also providing support in assessing the use of the Air Force Air Defense System of the United Kingdom. The end result will be a product of high capacity, with good value for money and able to automatically detect and break down incoming threats, ensuring the safety of hostile teams.
Both Elix-IR and Miysis are designed and manufactured in the UK and are ready to be exported. The two companies will continue to sell their systems separately and at the same time work together to offer an integrated protection capability worldwide if this is the best solution to meet specific needs.
