IAF to put missile defense system on helicopters?
The IAF is condiering installing a missile defense system on its helicopters. The air force is looking into installing an active protection system aboard its helicopters that would intercept enemy missiles, similar to a system recently proven in combat on IDF tanks.Hmmm.
The proposal comes in face of the growing surface-to-air missile threat against IAF aircraft from the Gaza Strip and Lebanon.
The requirement for such a system was recently issued by the IAF’s Helicopter Air Directorate in light of the success of the Trophy active protection system developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, which intercepted a rocket-propelled grenade fired at a Merkava Mk 4 tank deployed along the border with the Gaza Strip in March.
The Trophy system, which weighs 800 kg, would not be appropriate for helicopters since it fires off a cloud of countermeasures that could damage the aircraft’s rotor. The Trophy consists of radar that detects threats and activates one of two launchers, which discharges a cloud of “hard-kill” countermeasures that physically attack incoming threats.
“We are looking into a hard-kill system for helicopters that would work like Trophy,” a senior IAF officer said. “It is still under review and consideration.”
Labels: helicopter, IAF, Missile defense
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 5:57 AM
2 Comments:
Hey IDF... put them anywhere and everywhere! Don't be shy!
Why is there a question mark in this entry's title? It is obvious that helicopters require serious counter-measures. Just watch the numerous YouTube videos of Russian helicopters being shot down by Chechnyan terrorists over the years.
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