S.Korea Develops Counter-SAM System for Aircraft

South Korea’s Agency for Defense Development (ADD) tested a counter missile system for military aircraft to help dodge enemies' portable surface-to-air missiles.

The directional infrared countermeasures (DIRCM) system enables aircraft to dodge missiles by emitting a laser beam to the ground, blinding missiles that rely on heat to track targets, the ADD said in a statement Wednesday.

The agency carried out an initial operational test and evaluation on helicopters under cooperation with Hanwha System from 2020-2021. It said the system “drastically shortened the response time,” enabling aircraft to guard against portable surface-to-air missiles from a close range.

The system can also be applied to larger aircraft, when enhanced with stronger laser output, it added.