Article Posted on : - Oct 22, 2010

Boldstroke™ Integrated Aircraft Survivability System (inset).

NASHUA, NEW HAMPSHIRE (BNS): BAE Systems Thursday unveiled the Boldstroke directable infrared countermeasures (DIRCM) suite, an integrated aircraft survivability system designed to protect aircraft from infrared-guided missiles and other evolving threats.

The Boldstroke DIRCM is a modular, lightweight, highly reliable, and low-cost directable infrared countermeasure suite. It uses modular open-system architecture and non-proprietary standard interfaces that support interchangeability and technology insertion.

The system allows for direct and fibre coupling between the laser and pointer/tracker, providing installation flexibility to meet the size, weight, and power requirements of both light and heavy rotary-wing platforms.

"To protect against current and emerging threats such as infrared-guided missiles and hostile fire we're applying our combat-proven technology, industry-leading experience, and customer commitment to the next-generation integrated aircraft survivability solution for the US Army's Common Infrared Countermeasures requirement," Dr. Mark Hutchins, Boldstroke program manager, was quoted as saying in the company news release.

Boldstroke DIRCM consists of flight-proven hardware and algorithms ready for low-risk transition to operational testing. It has a compact pointer and tracker, based on a flight-tested gimbal design and advanced laser technology to provide spectral diversity and power margin to address emerging threats. It also reduces A-Kit and B-Kit weight to maximize aircraft useful payload and increases weapon system availability, providing an estimated $1 billion in life-cycle cost savings.