Large Aircraft IR Countermeasures (LAIRCM)

The Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) program, under Program Element (PE) 0401134F, is a key Air Force initiative focused on enhancing the survivability of Department of Defense (DoD) large aircraft against infrared-guided missile threats, particularly man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS). The program is structured under Budget Activity 7 for Operational Systems Development, which supports upgrades to fielded systems and those approved for full-rate production. LAIRCM systems are currently deployed on over 1,200 aircraft across 54 types, providing autonomous detection, tracking, jamming, and countering of incoming missiles via integrated missile warning sensors, laser transmitter assemblies, and advanced processors. The overarching goal is to continuously evolve the defensive capabilities of these systems to address emerging threats and ensure integration with both new and legacy aircraft platforms.

The primary line item supporting ongoing research, development, and testing activities includes objectives such as Evolving Threat Analysis (ETA), Long Range Detect, Active Detection, and Advanced Defeat Technologies. The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), the 46th Test Squadron, and the Guided Weapon Evaluation Facility (GWEF) are principal agencies involved in threat exploitation, modeling, simulation, and validation of countermeasure effectiveness. Planned activities emphasize ramping up Hostile Fire Indicator/Laser Warning (HFI/LW) capabilities and initiating long-range sensor development, with hardware/software upgrades, risk reduction studies, and validation testing to maintain system performance against new and improved threats.

A new start project is aimed at activating previously prototyped capabilities within the LAIRCM system to address unique and previously unaddressed threat categories. The objective is to update hardware, software, and firmware to enable detection and defeat of distinct threats, ensuring the system remains current with the latest threat models. Initial development and validation efforts are conducted at the AFRL Dynamic Infrared Missile Evaluator (DIME) Lab, with subsequent integration into the LAIRCM software baseline managed by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NGC). Planned activities will focus on studying integration solutions, implementing form, fit, function, and interface changes, and validating new capabilities to improve overall system effectiveness.

Another new start project is designed to provide advanced long-range sensing and cueing of threats, particularly through the anticipated use of Radio Frequency (RF) defense sensors. This effort will enhance situational awareness and survivability for high-value airborne assets by enabling detection and response to a broader spectrum of threats. Planned efforts include hardware and software upgrades, prototyping, integration into a modular system-of-systems architecture, and updating threat models to account for new categories of threats. The initial phase will be led by AFRL, with future competitive efforts anticipated as the technology matures.

The LAIRCM program also supports extensive Modeling, Simulation, and Test activities to verify and validate threat analysis, jam code effectiveness, and system integration. These activities are critical for accrediting test facilities, reducing risk prior to live missile fire tests, and ensuring the reliability and maintainability of the system across all operational flight envelopes. The Virtual System Integration Lab (SIL) is developed incrementally to provide a robust testing environment, utilizing commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) infrastructure to simulate and evaluate system performance against evolving threats.

Program support costs within PE 0401134F include contract services and government expenses necessary to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. Civilian pay expenses may be covered as needed, supplementing other program elements. The acquisition strategy leverages annual contract awards, existing contract options, and government-led studies to rapidly address new requirements and integrate advanced technologies. The program's flexibility allows for the rapid award of new efforts and adaptation to changing threat environments.