AMPS
Airborne missile protection systemThe challenge
The challenge you face is perhaps best expressed in the form of the emerging threat profile. The level of hostile threats to aircraft and helicopters globally, in both military and civilian scenarios, is constantly increasing.
Estimates suggest that there are more than 500,000 shoulder-launched, surface-to-air missiles and man-portable air defence systems (MANPADS) on the international market at the moment. As a result of evolving conflicts, many of these systems are now in the hands of non-state actors and terrorists.
A high proportion of aircraft losses in the most recent areas of operations was the result of infrared, surface-to-air missiles (IR SAMs). Laser and radar threats are increasingly prevalent in the theatre of operations as well.
Our solution
To reliably detect the increasing number of threats such as shoulder-launched, surface-to-air missiles and man-portable air defence systems (MANPADS), the HENSOLDT Airborne Missile Protection System (AMPS) can be configured with sub-systems that warn against the use of missiles, lasers and radar. This quick detection helps ensure the most dependable protection possible.
Depending on the needs and operational requirements of the individual customer, different configurations of the AMPS self-protection system can be realised by combining selected sub-systems to deliver the desired effect.
The sub-systems that can be integrated into AMPS are a Missile Warning System (MWS), a Missile Approach Confirmation Sensor (MACS), a Laser Warning System (LWS), a Radar Warning System (RWS) a Counter Measure Dispenser System (CMDS), a Directed Infrared Countermeasure (DIRCM) and a Control & Display Unit (CDU) for system operation. The CDU (as a central control unit) makes the modular and scalable concept possible, evaluates the information from the sensors, automatically activates the appropriate countermeasures at the best point of time and warns the pilot via an acoustic and graphic alarm message.
Features and benefits
Features
- Reliably protecting the life of the crew and the pilot as well as the platform
- Making it possible to carry out missions in difficult and dangerous surroundings
- It is an economical solution that offers top
- High reliability
- Modular system architecture for individual operational needs
- Combat-proven system
- Highest level of protection
- Lowest number of pieces of equipment
- Easy to install and can be integrated into the avionics system
- Complete stand-alone system for self-protection
- No interfaces to mission or avionic systems required but can interoperate with a standardised Interface
- Very low weight and power consumption
- Multi-threat handling
- High probability of detection, lowest possible false-alarm rate
- Difficult for adversaries to deceive
- Sensors are emissions-free (stealth)
Benefits
- Combines different kinds of warning sensors, countermeasures and other avionic equipment to protect the platform and its crew
- Low maintenance required (no scheduled maintenance)
- AMPS uses off-the-shelf equipment, giving it inherent modularity, which makes the system easily adaptable to specific mission profiles and operational needs including protection against missile, laser and radar threats
- Flexible self-protection suite for helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft
- Decades of experience and continuous improvements based on thousands of hours of genuine flight data in cooperation with NATO users
- Self-protection systems by HENSOLDT are in operational use on more than 700 military and VIP platforms for a variety of customers around the world
- High availability/MTBF
- AMPS: Never fly without it
Configuration
AMPS-M: Integrates countermeasures dispenser system with 1 to 16 smart dispensers.
AMPS-MV: Integrates Missile Verification Sensors to confirm the presence of an approaching missile, including parameters such as distance and velocity. Depending on the operating mode, countermeasures are automatically initiated.
AMPS-ML: Integrates ALTAS-2Q(B), a passive Laser Warning System that is designed to detect, track and provide warning of hostile laser sources.
AMPS-MLR: Integrates Kalaetron RWR radar warning receiver. Due to its fully digital design, the radar warner detects and identifies threats incredibly quickly and with a very low false alarm rate over an extremely wide frequency range.
AMPS-MD: Instead of flares as countermeasures, AMPS can be configured with Directed Infrared Counter Measures (DIRCM).
