Common Infrared Countermeasures (CIRCM)

Mission — Common Infrared Countermeasures (CIRCM) source

This funding line is a key enabler of the Army Modernization Priorities in support of the Aircraft Survivability Equipment (ASE) program. The Common Infrared Countermeasure (CIRCM) budget line includes funding to support the development and integration of Aircraft Survivability Equipment (ASE) products onto rotary wing and fixed wing aircraft. CIRCM (EB4) CIRCM is the next generation lightweight, laser-based Infrared Countermeasure (IRCM) component that will interface with the Army's Common Missile Warning System (CMWS), Limited Interim Missile Warning System (LIMWS), Advanced Threat Warner (ATW), and future Improved Threat Detection System (ITDS) to defeat current and emerging missile threats that use multispectral technology for rotary-wing, tilt-rotor and small fixed-wing aircraft across the DoD. CIRCM receives an angular bearing hand-off from the MWS, employs a pointing and tracking system which acquires the handed-over threat and tracks the incoming missile during and after motor burnout. CIRCM jams the missile by using modulated laser energy in the missile seeker band, thus degrading the tracking capability of the missile and causing it to miss the aircraft. CIRCM is utilizing Open Systems Architecture which allows flexibility with software and hardware refreshes. Tech insertions, when coupled with future threat acquisition and integration, will ensure CIRCM performance to keep pace with future threats. CIRCM is part of the suite of ASE Mission Equipment for Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA). The CIRCM A-Kit includes mounting hardware, wiring harnesses, and other components necessary to install and interface the mission kit on host aircraft. The A-Kit ensures the mission kit is functionally and physically operational with a specific host aircraft type. The CIRCM B-Kit is the mission kit (laser, pointer tracker, and processor) required to achieve near spherical coverage for an aircraft. Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Base Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDTE) funding in the amount of $10.789 million will fund A-Kit development, integration and test activities on multi-variant platforms, acquiring additional B-Kit test Line Replaceable Units (LRUs) in the support of development / testing activities, as well as threat and vulnerability analysis.

Mission — CIRCM source

This funding line is a key enabler of the Army Modernization Priorities in support of Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA). The Common Infrared Countermeasure (CIRCM) budget line funding supports continuing A-Kit development, model-based systems engineering, and integration activities for rotary wing and fixed wing aircraft. CIRCM (EB4) CIRCM is the next generation lightweight, laser-based Infrared Countermeasure (IRCM) component that will interface with the Army's Common Missile Warning System (CMWS), Limited Interim Missile Warning System (LIMWS), Advanced Threat Warner (ATW), and future Improved Threat Detection System (ITDS) system to defeat current and emerging missile threats that use multispectral technology for rotary-wing, tilt-rotor and small fixed-wing aircraft across the Department of Defense (DoD). CIRCM receives an angular bearing hand-off from the Missile Warning System (MWS), employs a pointing and tracking system which acquires the handed-over threat and tracks the incoming missile during and after motor burnout. CIRCM jams the missile by using modulated laser energy in the missile seeker band, thus degrading the tracking capability of the missile and causing it to miss the aircraft. CIRCM is utilizing Open Systems Architecture which allows flexibility with software and hardware refreshes. Tech insertions, when coupled with future threat acquisition and integration, will ensure CIRCM performance to keep pace with future threats. CIRCM is part of the suite of Aircraft Survivability Equipment (ASE) Mission Equipment for FLRAA. The CIRCM A-Kit includes mounting hardware, wiring harnesses, and other components necessary to install and interface the mission kit on host aircraft. The A-Kit ensures the mission kit is functionally and physically operational with a specific host aircraft type. The CIRCM B-Kit is the mission kit (laser, pointer tracker, and processor) required to achieve near spherical coverage for an aircraft. Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Base Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDTE) funding in the amount of $10.789 million will fund A-Kit development, integration and test activities on multi-variant platforms, acquiring additional B-Kit test Line Replaceable Units (LRUs) in the support of development / testing activities, as well as threat and vulnerability analysis.

Accomplishments & Planned Programs (2)