System and method for providing a cooperative network for applying countermeasures to airborne threats

A method of countering an airborne threat to an aircraft, comprising the steps of:

• receiving threat information about said airborne threat from a remote source;
• receiving source information about said remote source;
• determining a type of airborne threat from said received threat information and said received source information;
• selecting a countermeasure that is presently available by said remote source, wherein said countermeasure is capable of deterring said airborne threat from inflicting damage to said aircraft;
• and
• instructing said remote source to deploy said selected countermeasure that is presently available.

A method of countering an airborne threat to an aircraft, comprising the steps of:

• determining threat information about said airborne threat;
• transmitting said threat information to a remote device;
• transmitting source information to said remote device;
• receiving instructions to deploy a countermeasure selected by said remote device, as a result of said steps of determining threat information, transmitting said threat information, and transmitting said source information, wherein said selected countermeasure is presently available;
• and
• deploying said selected countermeasure,
• wherein said threat information and said source information is collectively referred to as a track file.