Active/Passive Aircraft Survivability (APAS) Program

This paper will discuss the motivation for, and execution of, an Army Tech Base program that will develop next-generation active and passive countermeasures into an integrated rotorcraft survivability system. This unclassified paper will discuss the broad approach used to address countermeasures for current threats to rotorcraft platforms operating in and near urban environments. The discussion will not include specific design details or performance metrics of components or the system as a whole. This paper is intended to highlight the potential solution space being investigated under the APAS program and the expected benefit to the warfighter from its development. Specifically, the paper will discuss the need for reduced aircraft IR signatures as a complement to missile warning receivers and active jammers. The need to rapidly detect and locate small arms and RPG hostile fire sources, and cue the aircrew to their location for effective counter-fire will also be discussed. This paper will walk through the individual components of the APAS system and discuss how they will be integrated into a complete system. This paper will not include actual aircraft signatures or jammer effects.