A CH-47 Chinook helicopter fires flares on Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany (U.S. Army Photo by Pfc. Jacob Bradford). – US DoD
The May 11th State Department approval of a Foreign Military Sale to Germany of CH-47F Chinook Helicopters, also puts in motion the purchase of critical electronic self-protection systems, amid a phalanx of accompanying support technology. The request to buy 60 CH-47F Block II Cargo Helicopters and related equipment for an estimated cost of $8.5 billion is all part of a much-needed German military effort to replenish and enhance its rotary-wing transport capabilities.
An accompanying order for 72 AAR-57 Common Missile Warning Systems (60 installed, 12 spares) will provide some of the front line defense for the helicopters. The system uses a set of staring focal plane arrays to detect the launch and approach of a missile, and then cue a number of decoys and flare dispensers.
Over recent years the AAR-57 has been produced for the U.S. military and a long list of international clients via FMS of U.S.-produced tactical aircraft such as the German Chinook order. In August 2022, the State Department approved an FMS to Australia of UH-60M Black Hawk Helicopters and related equipment including 44 AAR-57 systems for an estimated cost of $1.95 billion.
Accompanying AVR-2B laser detecting sets are designed to detect and identify the source of laser emissions, among other advanced capabilities. The system has a long production history for the U.S. and export customers, equipping such rotorcraft platforms as the CH-47, AH-64 Apache, UH-60M Black Hawk, and the V-22 Osprey. The same August 2022, Black Hawk FMS to Australia that saw the order for AAR-57, also included the AVR-2B.
Finally, for this brief survey of only some of the many important systems included with the recent Chinook FMS, APR-39C(V)1 radar detecting sets detect and provide alerts to the aircrew of surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) and anti-aircraft artillery (AAA) pulse, pulse-Doppler, and continuous wave (CW) radar engagement. Like most of the vital systems mentioned above, APR-39 has also been featured in recent years as an essential component in the safeguarding of advanced tactical aircraft.
Forecast International’s eight Military Electronic Systems Market Intelligence Services cover the full range of defense-related systems and programs in the radar, communications, electro-optical, and electronic warfare markets, presenting a comprehensive market outlook for current equipment as well as new systems being developed as the modern battlefield moves toward a technology-based warfare approach with network-centric capabilities. For more information, click here.
Andrew Dardine is lead analyst for Forecast International's Defense Electronic Systems group. He is the primary author of Forecast International's Electronic Warfare Forecast and co-author of Electro-Optical Systems Forecast and C4I Forecast. Andrew is also a regular contributor to FI's Defense & Security Monitor blog, offering insights into developing technologies such as directed-energy and next-generation jamming systems. His analysis of such vital market areas as EO/IR systems and electronic countermeasures technology has been cited in Defense News, Aerospace Daily, and Bloomberg Businessweek, among other news media. He has also written about the electronic defense market for Aviation Week and the Journal of Electronic Defense.
