Israeli Defense Firm Delivers Missile Protection System to an African Air Force

BIRD Aerosystems has completed the delivery, installation, and commissioning of its Advanced Airborne Missile Protection System (AMPS) to an undisclosed African country. 

The Israeli defense firm supplied its AMPS to an African air force’s Mi-17 utility/transport and Mi-24 attack helicopters. African countries that are known to operate both choppers include Angola, Chad, and Uganda, though these were not named by the company in its announcement.

To protect against surface-to-air missile threats, including man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS), the AMPS incorporates BIRD’s proprietary Self-Protection Radar Electro-Optic System (SPREOS) directional infrared countermeasures system (DIRCM) and μEYE missile warning sensor (MWS).

Advanced Missile Protection

The compact μEYE MWS employs an opto-electronic sensor to quickly detect and alert crews of missile threats.

It triggers the SPREOS DIRCM, which activates a semi-active radar to confirm that the object is a genuine missile, tracking and analyzing its position, distance, velocity, and radar cross-section to tailor the most effective countermeasure response.

Once verified, SPREOS uses a dual-band laser to jam the missile’s seeker while simultaneously monitoring its trajectory to assess whether the threat has been neutralized and to confirm the effectiveness of the aircraft’s laser and flare defenses.

This feature ensures “zero false alarms against advanced missile threats,” according to BIRD Aerosystems. 

“The successful delivery and commissioning of this AMPS configuration, featuring our in-house-developed SPREOS and μEYE sensors, is a significant milestone that deepens our partnership with this key African Air Force,” EDR Magazine quoted company Co-CEO and Founder, Ronen Factor, as saying.