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NATO end users amongst its customers and
it has already been exported into the Middle
East as well.

“We are in discussions with United Arab Emirates
(UAE) military, and partners in the region, to
supply Miysis DIRCMs for self-protection of [ ELECTRONIC WARFARE ]
aircraft. We are working with partners in UAE,
to propose Miysis solutions for a lot of key plat-
forms that are in the country,” David Gourlay,
Head of DIRCM Campaigns at Leonardo, tells
Asian Defence Technology. “This is being done
on the back of a lot of success with other cus-
tomers. We've just recently supplied the units to
the UK Royal Air Force. Despite the COVID-19
pandemic, these deliveries were made ahead of
schedule.” The Miysis DIRCM was selected in
September 2019 to be integrated on the RAF’s
fleet of eight Shadow R1 intelligence-gathering
aircraft, as part of a Leonardo/Thales protec-
tion system for the ISTAR platforms. Initial
Operating Capability for the protection systems
which also include a Thales “Elix-IR” Threat
Warner, Leonardo DAS Controller and Thales
“Vicon” Countermeasures Dispensing System
is slated for early 2021.
Protection at the Ready
The Miysis system was in development since
2009 and utilises Leonardo’s world-leading
laser manufacture and DIRCM pointer tracker
capabilities, to offer a ‘readily exportable’
system. It is touted as the smallest, lightest and
least power hungry multi-head DIRCM system
offered for export. Access to the latest tech-
nology has become especially important with
Hard Kill tactics involving multiple missile attacks. A
increasingly advanced MANPADS threats and

DIRCM system operates by locating and track-
ing the incoming Infra-Red MANPADS missiles
and then shining a high-powered laser onto
their targeting sensors to direct the missile
away from the aircraft. This task is complicated
by the fact that, when faced with a short range
LEONARDO’S MIYSIS SYSTEM IS EMERGING AS MANPADS firing, a DIRCM has less than 2.5
THE DIRCM OF CHOICE seconds to work.

Atul Chandra “MIYSIS DIRCM IS ABSOLUTELY
VIABLE FOR ANYBODY'S AIRCRAFT
Directed InfraRed Counter Measure (DIRCM) systems are now in AND, AND WE HAVE EVERY
widespread use due to their proven efficacy against Man Portable CONFIDENCE IN BEING ABLE TO
Air Defence System (MANPADS) missile threats which continue EXPORT TO THE MIDDLE EAST OR
to present a serious threat to aircraft in theatres of conflict. One FAR EAST. IT IS AN IDEAL DIRCM
of the newest DIRCM systems in operational service and one that
has quickly racked up orders is Leonardo’s Miysis self-protection FOR ANYBODY'S FLEET OR A SET
system. The new generation Mysis DIRCM has been in full oper- OF FLEETS BECAUSE OF COURSE, IF
ational service for over two years now and Leonardo counts five IT'S SMALL ENOUGH, THEN IT CAN

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