Air Expendable Countermeasures

The Air Expendable Countermeasures (AECM) program is a Navy and Marine Corps initiative focused on the procurement of airborne self-protection devices for tactical, rotary, and fixed-wing aircraft. Its primary goal is to ensure fleet aircrew training, readiness, and operational combat capability against evolving radio frequency (RF) and infrared (IR) missile threats. The program supports the delivery of electronic warfare (EW) solutions that enhance survivability and mission success for U.S. Navy (USN) and U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) aircraft. In recent years, AECM has begun transitioning to a Common Carriage (CC) solution, standardizing countermeasures across platforms to improve interoperability and operational effectiveness.

The Active Jammers component includes devices that work in conjunction with aircraft EW suites to counter RF threats. The program is transitioning to the Dual Band Decoy (DBD), which will replace legacy systems and provide improved protection against advanced radar-guided threats. DBD development and procurement are managed by NAVAIR, with production scheduled to achieve Initial Operating Capability (IOC) in FY2025 and full-rate production in subsequent years. The Advanced Active Expendable Device (AAED) is also under development to provide enhanced multi-platform protection against surface-to-air and air-to-air missile threats, leveraging modern hardware and techniques.

The Infrared (IR) Decoys line item includes a variety of flares and spectral countermeasures tailored to specific aircraft types and threat profiles. The CC solution introduces square form factor decoys to standardize inventory and enhance protection against advanced man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS). Procurement quantities are determined based on fleet needs and the Naval Munitions Requirements Process (NMRP). Ongoing product improvement and production engineering support ensure cost-effectiveness and safety.

The Impulse Cartridges segment provides the propulsion mechanisms required to deploy countermeasures from aircraft. Key items are selected based on compatibility with specific aircraft and countermeasure types. The transition to newer cartridge models supports the CC solution, ensuring reliable deployment of square form factor devices. Procurement and engineering support are adjusted annually to meet fleet requirements and maintain operational readiness.

The Chaff Countermeasures line item consists of devices used to defeat RF-guided missile threats. The program is introducing advanced RF passive countermeasures to address emerging threats and provide high scattering radar cross-section capability. These procurements are informed by Small Business Innovation Research and ongoing development efforts, with quantities and specifications tailored to fleet needs and evolving threat environments.

The F-35 Countermeasures component is managed under a combined contracting strategy, enabling unit price efficiencies and meeting global operational requirements. This line item includes unique IR and RF countermeasures for the F-35, such as active jammers, active RF anti-missile devices, passive RF countermeasures, and IR decoys. Recent adjustments have realigned funding to support the transition to CC devices and address urgent fleet requirements in response to newly fielded RF missile threats.

The AECM program is structured to maintain an effective mixture of countermeasures that degrade or neutralize current and projected threats. Annual procurement decisions are based on actual and forecasted fleet usage, best-negotiated pricing, and inventory objectives. The program includes integrated logistics support, production engineering, product improvement, and acceptance testing to ensure that all devices are cost-effective, environmentally safe, and compatible with operational requirements. Supplemental funding has been used to replenish inventory and address urgent operational needs. The FY2026 request supports continued procurement and integration of advanced countermeasures, ensuring the Navy and Marine Corps maintain robust defensive capabilities against evolving missile threats.