Directed infrared countermeasures (DIRCM) system and method

A directed infrared countermeasures (DIRCM) system for use on an aircraft to track and jam a missile having an infrared (IR) missile seeker, comprising:

• a pointer-tracker having a detector and a Roll/Nod gimbal that includes optics for collecting incident IR radiation and routing it to the detector and an IR laser transmitter mounted thereon;
• an IR laser;
• a continuous optical fiber that is routed around the Roll/Nod gimbal axes to optically couple the IR laser to the laser transmitter;
• and
• a missile warner including multiple receivers that detects a missile launch and passes the threat coordinates to the pointer-tracker,
• said pointer-tracker slews the gimbal to the threat coordinates, processes the data from its detector to perform fine tracking and engages the IR laser to emit a modulated IR laser beam through the laser transmitter to jam the IR missile seeker.

A method of directed infrared countermeasures (DIRCM) for using a pointer-tracker having a Roll/Nod gimbal mounted on an aircraft to track and jam a missile having an infrared (IR) missile seeker, comprising:

• Collecting incident IR radiation in a wide FOV;
• Declaring likely missile launch based on the collected IR radiation;
• Passing threat coordinates for the missile launch to the pointer-tracker;
• Slewing the Roll/Nod gimbal to the threat coordinates to initiate tracking;
• Collecting incident IR radiation in a narrow FOV through the gimbal to refine tracking of and verify the threat;
• Modulating an IR laser beam;
• and
• If verified, emitting the modulated IR laser beam to jam the IR missile seeker.