Destructive Expendable Countermeasure Kill Vehicle (DECMKV)

The purpose of the Destructive Expendable CounterMeasure Kill Vehicle (DECMKV) is to physically deflect or destroy a Man-Portable Air Defense System (MANPADS) or air-to-air missile targeted at a fixed wing or rotor aircraft Portable MANPADS missiles are a major threat to military aircraft such as the F/A-18. Typical MANPADS can be carried and operated by one person. They weigh approximately 25-40 pounds, and are generally 5-6 feet in length, making them easy to transport. They are easy to store, maintain, set-up, aim and fire. Current countermeasures against these threats and the tactics associated with their use have proven to have limitations. DECMKV will be an innovative aircraft self-protection destructive countermeasure system capable of being dispensed from the F/A-18’s AN/ALE-50 Integrated Defensive Electronic CounterMeasures (IDECM) system dispenser. DECMKV will be capable of autonomously acquiring, tracking and homing on an inbound threat missile, and destroying or rendering it ineffective. Future objectives also include adaptation of the DECMKV to other aircraft, including helicopters. During the DECMKV Phase II effort, a prototype system will be designed, fabricated and demonstrated to validate the system’s ability to meet the challenging maneuver and control requirements.