November 12, 2004
AUSTRALIA'S defence scientists believe they have made a significant breakthrough in developing a laser-based system to counter the threat of heat-seeking missiles targeting military and civilian aircraft.
Scientists from the Defence Science and Technology Organisation have spent six years developing the jamming system, which uses a solid-state laser to locate an incoming missile and thwart its sensors with laser radiation, causing it to veer away from its target.
The DSTO, with defence company Tenix, is getting closer to a prototype system that will soon be offered to industry for full-scale product development.
The new system would represent a major evolution on existing missile counter-measures for military aircraft, which use flares as decoys.
The multiband laser is a lighter, more versatile system than others in development. It dispenses with the requirement for a separate lamp using a single laser beam to cover the entire infrared spectrum and defeat a variety of missiles.
"This technology, we believe, will defeat the current threat of MANPADS (man-portable air defence systems)," said DSTO laser expert David Lancaster, who is working on the new technology.
"Flares are the current solution but the laser is the next generation of aircraft self-protection technology."
Existing systems have a laser that covers a small part of the spectrum and a lamp that covers another distinct part of the spectrum.
"The problem with this is that the lamp is very large and bulky. Like a light globe, there is not a lot of directionality about it."
The immediate requirement is to protect Australian defence force aircraft but the technology could also eventually be applied to commercial aircraft.
The DSTO breakthrough comes as more of Australia's frontline military aircraft patrolling the skies over Iraq will get tougher skins and missile decoy systems in an effort to thwart attacks by insurgents.
The RAAF is looking at a type of "ballistic matting" that provides some protection against small arms fire.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,11360446%5E31477,00.html
AUSTRALIA'S defence scientists believe they have made a significant breakthrough in developing a laser-based system to counter the threat of heat-seeking missiles targeting military and civilian aircraft.
Scientists from the Defence Science and Technology Organisation have spent six years developing the jamming system, which uses a solid-state laser to locate an incoming missile and thwart its sensors with laser radiation, causing it to veer away from its target.
The DSTO, with defence company Tenix, is getting closer to a prototype system that will soon be offered to industry for full-scale product development.
The new system would represent a major evolution on existing missile counter-measures for military aircraft, which use flares as decoys.
The multiband laser is a lighter, more versatile system than others in development. It dispenses with the requirement for a separate lamp using a single laser beam to cover the entire infrared spectrum and defeat a variety of missiles.
"This technology, we believe, will defeat the current threat of MANPADS (man-portable air defence systems)," said DSTO laser expert David Lancaster, who is working on the new technology.
"Flares are the current solution but the laser is the next generation of aircraft self-protection technology."
Existing systems have a laser that covers a small part of the spectrum and a lamp that covers another distinct part of the spectrum.
"The problem with this is that the lamp is very large and bulky. Like a light globe, there is not a lot of directionality about it."
The immediate requirement is to protect Australian defence force aircraft but the technology could also eventually be applied to commercial aircraft.
The DSTO breakthrough comes as more of Australia's frontline military aircraft patrolling the skies over Iraq will get tougher skins and missile decoy systems in an effort to thwart attacks by insurgents.
The RAAF is looking at a type of "ballistic matting" that provides some protection against small arms fire.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,11360446%5E31477,00.html
