Air-based laser counter-countermeasure system

A method of engaging a countermeasure system to reduce protective ability of the countermeasure system against subsequent laser-guided attack, the countermeasure system having (1) a laser detector to receive and identify an incident laser signal as a target designator signal and (2) one or more countermeasure subsystems operative in response to an output of the laser detector to deploy corresponding countermeasures against a laser target designator, the method comprising:

• deploying an air-based counter-countermeasure (CCM) system to an area of the countermeasure system, the CCM system having an autonomous or semi-autonomous unmanned aircraft carrying a laser-based CCM subsystem;
• and
• operating the CCM subsystem during the deployment of the CCM system to direct a simulated target designator laser signal to the laser detector of the countermeasure system to trigger one or more of the countermeasures and thereby reduce the protective ability of the countermeasure system against the subsequent laser-guided attack:
• wherein the CCM subsystem includes (1) a camera and control electronics constructed and arranged to provide associated automatic target recognition (ATR) functionality to identify the countermeasure system as a target, and (2) a laser subsystem configured and operative to generate and direct the simulated target designator laser signal to the countermeasure system.

An air-based counter-countermeasure device, comprising:

• a housing constructed and arranged to couple with an autonomous or semi-autonomous unmanned aircraft capable of deployment to an area of a countermeasure system having (1) a laser detector to receive and identify an incident laser signal as a target designator signal and (2) one or more countermeasure subsystems operative in response to an output of the laser detector to deploy corresponding countermeasures against a laser target designator;
• and
• laser-based counter-countermeasure (CCM) componentry supported by housing, the CCM componentry being configured and operative, during the deployment of the aircraft, to direct a simulated target designator laser signal to the laser detector of the countermeasure system to trigger one or more of the countermeasures and thereby reduce protective ability of the countermeasure system against subsequent laser-guided attack:
• wherein the CCM componentry includes (1) a camera and control electronics constructed and arranged to provide associated automatic target recognition (ATR) functionality to identify the countermeasure system as a target, and (2) a laser subsystem configured and operative to generate and direct the simulated target designator laser signal to the countermeasure system.