Publications

Version: 1.2 Approved

LDO-ID 2020-05-15-02

Title MAIR: A New IR-Based Multi Function Air Protection System

Abstract

The proliferation of relatively low-cost Man Portable Weapons (MANPADS), capable of shooting down military but also civilian helicopters and airplanes, motivates the relevant interest in innovative systems of protection able to effectively counteract these threats and significantly increase the safety of flight. MAIR (Multiple Aperture InfraRed) is a Missile Warning System dedicated to helicopters and airplanes protection, based on multiple InfraRed sensors, suitably installed to properly cover the full angular space around the aircraft. The system provides an inedited set of functionalities, not available with the previous generation systems generally based on ultraviolet wavelengths. In particular the system provides the following main functions:  Missile Launch Warning  Missile Tracking  Full Sky Surveillance (IRST function)  Hostile Fire Indication and Muzzle Detection  Day and Night Spherical Vision and Increased Situational Awareness Moreover the fast response time and high tracking accuracy, significantly exceeding the performances of the UV systems currently installed in manyplatforms, make the MAIR particularly appropriate for integration with DIRCM systems. MAIR takes leverage on the latest results on infrared detectors technology, today available in very small packages, with high resolution and increased sensitivity; it combines an efficient and modern HW architecture, and the most advanced suite of algorithms derived from Leonardo IRST (InfraRed Search and Track) systems, specifically tailored/to enhance the Missile Warning functions. MAIR is composed by a set of MOH (MAIR Optical Heads) in order to cover up to the full sphere around the hosting platform with 6 sensors. The MAIR performances have been confirmed by the acquisition of real data in several ground and flight campaigns. Leonardo's MAIR algorithms suite has been tailored and tuned to guarantee a high detection probability of Surface to Air Threats and Small Caliber Weapons, while reporting negligible false alarm rate in a heterogeneous set of cluttered background.

Authors Conte Roberto, Pozzi Ambrogio, Minelli Alessandro, Luoni Mauro, Ondini Aurora, Spatola Antonino, Balzarotti Giorgio

Type Paper for Specialistic Magazine

Media EWCI 2020 - International Conference on Electronic Warfare (17-20, February 2020, Bangalore, India)

Web site

Anno 2020