Patent ID: 8596178

Claim:
A countermeasure system, comprising: an expandable countermeasure having a flexible receiving body and a plurality of weighted projectiles; a countermeasure launcher configured for attachment to a platform and for receiving the expandable countermeasure in a stowed configuration, the countermeasure launcher comprising: a cavity sized to receive the flexible receiving body of the expandable countermeasure in the stowed configuration, a plurality of projectile barrels surrounding the cavity, the plurality of projectile barrels configured to receive the plurality of weighted projectiles and to direct each of the weighted projectiles at a launch angle from a central axis through a center of the cavity upon countermeasure launch, and a firing mechanism communicatively connected to a threat detection and launch control system and fluidly connected to the plurality of projectile barrels such that when triggered by the threat detection and launch control system, the firing mechanism is operative to propel the plurality of weighted projectiles out of the plurality of projectile barrels; and the threat detection and launch control system comprising a radar system operative to detect an incoming threat and, in response, the threat detection and launch control system operative to trigger a launch of the expandable countermeasure from the countermeasure launcher.