The distinction doesn’t make a difference functionally, it’s got nowhere near the power it needs to actually damage the seeker over the time of flight, it still impacts missile guidance by injecting a jamming waveform into the seeker.
The only impact would be that the effective range increases significantly vs a similarly powered incoherent system, such as the ALQ-144 or ALQ-157.
It’s also worth noting that the system claims protection against 1st (AM) 2nd(FM) and 3rd(Conical-scan) gen missiles.
Which notably doesn’t include seekers using Rosette (4th) or Imaging (5th) seekers
AH-64D has its correct weapons without going to BR 13.3 with AGM-114Ls.
AH-64E should come with Spikes whenever they finish it, and I hope it’s priority for them.
@MythicPi
DIRCM has been in the game since at least 2023.
Probably banking on customers probably not actually testing it and the fact that if an IRIS-T operator gets in a fight with a LDIRCM equipped enemy the real combat resistance to LDIRCM is going to be the least of their worries
Who even has IRIS-T and LDIRCM and like I said, how likely is it they specifically end up testing it
It’s possible they tested against an older or worse LDIRCM system too. I mean currently both US and China are actively producing them and they both expect to fight modern stuff with IIR seekers, wouldn’t make much sense to invest in a complex and expensive system if it’s already outdated
It’s written in link
GMW - guided missile weapons
IRS - infrared seeker
Second picture btw is specifically includes Mi-28NM LDIRCM, tho can be applied as well to MUSIC, NEMESIS and Boldstroke since it’s claimed to be on par with them.
Those are just quick checks too, I’m sure there are more western allies with LDIRCM that have tested them. Its not like LDIRCM is some super new development nobody but the russians and americans have thought of before…
Theres probably a reason why LDIRCM isnt commonly seen on anything but helicopters, along with some strike aircrafts and the occasional other support aircraft; LDIRCM doesn’t appear to work vs modern imaging seekers, but they work great vs MANPADs, a system you are unlikely to have to worry much about unless you spend extended periods of time at low altitude over potentially hostile areas.
The issues is probably with speeds of fighters, LDIRCMs are not that rare for civil and cargo planes, and the only fighter with LDIRCM Su-57 uses more complex solution of basically IRST with built in laser jammer so it can have higher accuracy
GMW, is probably Guided Missile ?Way-finding?
IRS is probably, Infra-Red Suppression, if it was seekers why include the AIM-9L (unless it’s nontonal)
1st gen / Single spectrum is probably, early seekers that use the lower IR air bandgap so have Rear-Aspect only performance (also known as Alpha band or Band I ) a material example would be uncooled PbS detectors. And using basic reticle scanning techniques (Amplitude Modulation)
Dual spectrum receivers probably refers to Frequency Modulation based, All aspect seekers since they are sensitive across both Alpha and Beta (Band II) IR bandgaps. and makes sense as that is going to be by far the most common threat encountered.
False heat targets is obviously flares
Adalted False Heat targets is probably slow-rise Flares, or other advanced compositions.
Incoherent Modulated sources are DIRCM systems that use vapor arc lamps and other hot materials for their IR source like the ALQ-144 / -157.
Coherent is the Laser -DIRCM
These classifications don’t really make sense as the Stinger POST seeker for example could have a case made to fall into the 2nd ,3rd and 4th generation of missiles simultaneously.
IIR MANPADS exist, and US has considered it in the past and there is active stinger replacement program which I’m pretty sure uses an IIR seeker. So things like that would be considered when making the new LDIRCM for AH-64E’s and Z-10’s. I’m sure the Chinese have their own advanced MANPADS programs as well
While some manpads do in fact use IIR (Mistral 3 has been using one since the mid-2015s), most manpads in circulation today remain old iglas and stingers, so equipping a heli with DIRCM still makes sense even if it has a reduced efficiency against IIR seekers
DIRCM is not whats debated here. Its not effective against IIR Missile. What is Debated Is LDIRCM which could only be effective if it can physically damage the seeker with the laser. I
