Spc. Mary L. Gonzalez, CJTF-101 Public Affairs

The shooting down of a CH-47 Chinook

by a Taliban-launched rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) did more than kill 30 Americans, including 17 Navy SEALs. It also highlighted an important vulnerability of U.S. helicopters flying in Afghanistan. Army helicopters have defensive systems that can help protect against guided missiles, but those systems are not effective against cruder, unguided threats like RPGs. New defenses are on the way, but the most advanced system is already behind schedule.

Chinooks in Afghanistan have the Common Missile Warning System, which detects inbound threats and fires chaff and flares to confuse the seekers located at the tips of enemy missiles. There's an improved system coming down the line. The Advanced Threat Infrared Countermeasure Quick Reaction Capability locates incoming infrared-guided warheads and uses a laser to jam their signals, sending the missiles off target. As of May 2011, 55 U.S. helicopters deployed in military operations had the new system. The rest are scheduled to get it by the end of this year.

But neither system defends against unguided weapons. For that, the Army is working on two systems, including the Hostile Fire Quick Reaction Capability, which would provide basic information about incoming unguided threats. According to a recent Army briefing, the first Army aircraft will get this system later this year. An even more advanced system in the works, called the Hostile Fire Detection System, would alert pilots to the approximate direction from which unguided rockets are coming (by quadrant and by clock position). But this system may already be facing delays. The Defense Acquisition Board—a senior-level Pentagon group that helps guide weapons-buying decisions—was supposed to meet in June to consider the Hostile Fire Detection System. But it was "postponed in order for both sides to get together more info," says Cheryl Irwin, a Defense Department spokeswoman. That meeting is now scheduled for the fall.

For now, here's what the Chinook has in place to guard against ground-based threats:

EOM: Electro-optic missile sensors detect energy emitted from an incoming missile's plume. The sensors are placed at several locations around the aircraft: two rear, two forward and one on the belly of the helicopter (the latter was added specifically because of threats seen in Afghanistan).

ICMD: The Improved Countermeasure Dispenser launches chaff and flares. Chaff helps the helicopter hide its radar signature, and flares are designed to fool heat-seeking missiles into going after the wrong target. The dispensers fire flares upward or downward. The helos are equipped with four flare and four chaff dispensers; each holds 30 rounds.

Sequencer: When in automatic mode, this device times when countermeasures are fired so they have the best chance of distracting incoming missiles.

ECU: An electronic control unit acts as the brain of the entire system. It interprets the data from the sensors to determine whether countermeasures are needed.

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