Airbus Defence and Space partnered with the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) of the Australian Ministry of Defence to improve the protection of wide-body aircraft and helicopters in a joint development program, the company said on Feb. 25.
The program had Airbus and DSTO upgrade the Missile Launch Detection Systems (MILDS) AN/AAR-60 Block II Missile Approach Warning system with a Hostile Fire Indication (HFI) capability. HFI is a pure software application within the existing AAR-60 so no additional equipment is required. The new capability can now detect small arms fire.
DSTO and Airbus successfully tested the HFI algorithms in field trials with positive results, the company said.
MILDS is a passive imaging sensor that detects the UV radiation signature of approaching missiles. It requires four to five sensors for optimum coverage and rapid reaction.
Use of the UV spectrum does not have the limitation of infrared technologies, allowing for detection of small arms fire, the company said.
“The extremely high resolution combined with rapid processing enables very reliable threat identification and virtually eliminates false alarms,” Airbus said in a statement.
Over 8,000 MILDS have been sold, becoming a standard missile warner outside the United States, Airbus said. It is in service aboard the Tiger, NH90, CH-53, CH-47, and MI-17 helicopters. It is also on board C-130 transport aircraft. A fighter version, MILDS F, is in service in the Royal Danish Air Force and Royal Norwegian Air Force F-16 aircraft.