Thermal countermeasures are critical components of current military and defense systems that defend aircraft and vehicles against infrared-guided threats such as heat-seeking missiles. Thermal countermeasures function by interrupting or confounding the targeting systems of these missiles, boosting the target platform's likelihood of survival. These countermeasures are especially critical in today's combat settings when improved heat-seeking missiles represent a substantial danger.
The infrared countermeasures (IRCM) system is a typical form of thermal countermeasure that uses modern technology to identify and track incoming infrared-guided missiles. The IRCM system then sends out infrared jamming signals, successfully diverting the missile's heat-seeking sensor away from the targeted target. These systems are useful tools for increasing survivability since they may be put on airplanes, helicopters, and even ground vehicles. Also, the flares and chaff dispenser system are another sort of infrared countermeasure. This countermeasure employs the deployment of heat-emitting flares and metallic chaff to generate a large number of false targets in the missile's field of vision. The heat produced by the flares and the radar-reflective qualities of chaff confuse the missile's guidance system, forcing it to deviate from its planned track and miss the target. Multi-spectral countermeasures, such as the advanced threat infrared countermeasures (ATIRCM) system, integrate several strategies to provide complete infrared threat defense. To destroy incoming missiles, these systems employ a mix of jamming, flares, and lasers.
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