German aerospace company Hensoldt has secured a new contract to deliver its advanced AN / AAR-60 (V) 2 Missile Launch Detection System (MILDS) F warning system for the Belgian Air Force’s F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft.
The missile protection system will be integrated into Terma’s weapon pylon integrated dispensing system (PIDS+).
Hensoldt chief executive officer Thomas Müller said: “MILDS F, with its very low false alarm rate and fast detection, combined with automatic initiation of countermeasures, relieves the pilot’s workload in time-critical situations and ensures the safe return of both crew and aircraft.”
The AN / AAR-60 (V) 2 MILDS F missile warning system is a passive imaging sensor that helps detect the ultraviolet (UV) radiation signature of approaching missiles.
A number of sensors connected to a countermeasure signal processor offer full spherical coverage and rapid reaction.
Designed specifically to operate in the harsh environment of fighter aircraft, the MILDS F system facilitates flexible installation in either pylons, pods, or in the fuselage.
The system helps improve the aircraft’s protection against anti-aircraft missiles such as shoulder-fired infrared-guided missiles, which cannot be detected easily by existing warning systems.
The AN / AAR-60 (V) 2 MILDS F uses the upgraded key components of the original MILDS AN / AAR-60 missile warner, which is currently in operational use as the standard missile warning device on helicopters and transport / mission aircraft across the world.
Several European F-16 operator countries such as Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, and Belgium have opted for the company’s MILDS F to protect their F-16 fighter jets.
