BIRD Aerosystems, a leading Israeli defense technology company, has successfully delivered, installed, and commissioned its Advanced Airborne Missile Protection System (AMPS) for an undisclosed African nation. The system has been integrated into the country’s Mi-17 transport and Mi-24 attack helicopters, enhancing their survivability against modern missile threats. Although BIRD did not reveal the recipient, nations such as Angola, Chad, and Uganda are known operators of these helicopter types.
The AMPS is designed to counter surface-to-air missiles, including man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS), which pose significant risks to aircraft operating in hostile environments. The system integrates BIRD’s proprietary Self-Protection Radar Electro-Optic System (SPREOS) and the μEYE Missile Warning Sensor (MWS) to deliver multi-layered defense capabilities.
The μEYE MWS uses an opto-electronic sensor that rapidly detects and alerts aircrews to potential missile launches. Once a threat is identified, the SPREOS DIRCM activates a semi-active radar, verifying whether the detected object is a genuine missile. It continuously tracks and analyzes parameters such as range, velocity, and radar cross-section, determining the most suitable countermeasure strategy.
After confirming the threat, SPREOS deploys a dual-band laser to jam the missile’s seeker and monitors its flight path to ensure the threat is neutralized. This closed-loop process allows real-time assessment of countermeasure effectiveness and prevents unnecessary activation. BIRD Aerosystems emphasized that this technology ensures “zero false alarms against advanced missile threats,” providing precise, reliable protection for military helicopters in active operations.
