The Ministry of Defence has awarded a £732,219 contract to Cranfield Aerospace Solutions for support to the Chinook Aircraft Infrared Suppression System (IRSS) Environmental Data Gathering (EDG) Trials.
The 19-month contract, listed under reference CHC/666, will run from 1 April 2025 to 31 October 2026.
The work will focus on gathering environmental data to support the Chinook helicopter’s IRSS programme, aimed at improving survivability against infrared-guided threats.
According to the contract award notice, the project falls under the category of “military aircraft, missiles and spacecrafts” and is part of the Ministry’s wider efforts to enhance defensive countermeasures for existing rotary platforms.
Cranfield Aerospace Solutions, based in Cranfield, Bedfordshire, was the sole supplier awarded under the procurement, which the Ministry confirmed is “suitable for SMEs”. The contracting authority for the project is the MOD site at Bristol.
The Infrared Suppression System is designed to reduce the aircraft’s heat signature, making it less vulnerable to detection and targeting by infrared-seeking missiles. The EDG trials will provide critical data on system performance across different environmental conditions to inform future upgrades and operational effectiveness.
The above image is a bit disingenuous. As the Chinook infrared suppression system (IRSS), is not based on expendable decoy flares. It is a on-board passive system, that introduces blanking plates to mask hot components and redirects airflow to cool exhaust gases, both of which reduce the infrared signature hostile forces might rely on when firing infrared guided missiles. DE&S stated that the Chinook Mk5s and Mk6s would be getting this system in Sep 2021. The easiest way to tell if the Chinook has this system fitted is to look at the engine’s exhaust. There will be an extension to the engine that replaces the extant exhaust cone. This new “exhaust cone” incorporates a cold air blower to mix the hot exhaust gases with ambient air, thereby lowering the infrared signature. The US Army’s SOF MH47Gs have this type of system fitted to their engines.
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