What project 674942 buys
The Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) system is an evolutionary acquisition program that provides significantly improved defensive systems capability for DoD aircraft to counter the man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS) missile threat. The system is currently installed on 54 aircraft types and over 1,200 aircraft. The current LAIRCM system configuration consists of missile warning sensors (MWS), a laser transmitter assembly, control interface unit and processors to detect, track, jam and counter incoming missiles. The number of sensors and transmitter assemblies per aircraft is determined by the size and signature of the aircraft. The system is fully autonomous following system power-up. LAIRCM requirements are documented in the multi-command Operational Requirements Document (ORD) LAIRCM ORD 314-92, validated on 03 Aug 1998. The baseline development program is complete. Follow-on efforts continue Evolving Threat Analysis in order to address and counter new and emerging threats, as well as ensure integration onto new aircraft types and existing LAIRCM platforms. Additional efforts include design changes to improve reliability, maintainability, & availability and system improvements with form, fit, function and interface compliant replacements. LAIRCM upgrades include but are not limited to hardware and software upgrades, as well as testing of the LAIRCM system to maintain defensive capability against new and emerging threats. Current and future efforts include AFRL Threat Analysis; Modeling, Simulation and Test; Virtual System Integration Lab (SIL) Development; and Studies and Analysis. AFRL Threat Analysis encompasses the activities to support threat exploitation analysis of a variety of threats (both known and emerging) against the current LAIRCM jam code with the intent of determining if jam code updates are required. Typical threat analysis activities include: threat seeker characterization; model development for advanced threat IR seekers; development and testing of new infrared countermeasures concepts, techniques, and hardware; new technology assessment for potential incorporation into the LAIRCM system, and the evaluation/ exploitation of new threats and threat characteristics relative to infrared countermeasures (IRCM).
- Product Development
- Test and Evaluation
Project 674942 funding, FY2025–FY2031
Prior years are actuals, the budget year is the request, and the outyears are the FYDP plan. Estimate types are colored and never summed into one figure. Projects carry the full five-year plan; the activities inside them stop at the budget year.
| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 7.5 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 31.7 |
| FY2027 | Request | 0.0 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 0.0 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 0.0 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 0.0 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 0.0 |
3 accomplishments / planned programs
The R-2A exhibit — the only level of the budget that describes work that has not happened yet. Activities carry the prior, current and budget year only, no five-year plan. Coverage is partial across the corpus, so count activities, never total them.
FY2026 to FY2027 change Funding decreased due to the transfer of activities for HFI/LW capabilities under Multi-Threat Mid-Wave IR Sensor development to PE 0401134F, LAIRCM, Project 67A038, Active Defense Sensor, and the transfer of LRDS efforts to PE 0401334F, Large Aircraft Survivability Systems (LASS), Project 67A038, Active Defense Sensor.
FY2026 plans — current year Threat analysis activities to include threat exploitation, jam code updates, develop new Hostile Fire Indication/Laser Warning (HFI/LW) capability, and start Long Range Detect Sensor development.
FY2026 to FY2027 change Funding decreased due to a transfer of activities to PE 0401134F, LAIRCM, Project 67A038, Active Defense Sensor to support Multi-Threat Mid-Wave (MW) IR sensor development.
FY2026 plans — current year Continued Modeling, Simulation and Test analysis activities to include threat analysis validation.
FY2026 to FY2027 change Funding decrease due to a transfer of activities to PE 0401134F, LAIRCM, Project 67A038, Active Defense Sensor for Multi-Threat Mid-Wave (MW) IR sensor development.
FY2026 plans — current year Capability Upgrade efforts to support Hostile Fire Indicator/Laser Warning (HFI/LW) Joint Requirement and HFI/LW Risk Reduction Study.