The Ministry of Defence has contracted Leonardo and Thales to deliver an integrated Defensive Aids System (DAS) for Shadow R1 aircraft. 

The procurement will equip the RAF’s fleet of eight Shadow R1 intelligence-gathering aircraft, providing an advanced DAS which will protect the aircraft against latest-generation of Infra-Red (heat seeking) missiles.

According to Leonardo in a release:

“Designed, developed and manufactured in the UK, the system provides a sovereign capability which will be able to evolve in anticipation of changing threats to air platforms. 

The contract will be delivered by a combined MoD, Leonardo and Thales team under a Leonardo prime systems integration contract, with the equipment being integrated onto the platform by Raytheon UK.”

Initial Operating Capability is targeted for early 2021. The system consists of the following subsystems:

  • Thales “Elix-IR” Threat Warner
  • Leonardo DAS Controller
  • Leonardo “Miysis” Directed Infra-Red Counter Measure (DIRCM)
  • Thales “Vicon” Countermeasures Dispensing System

Leonardo say that the DAS brings together world-class capabilities in threat warning, self-protection co-ordination, countermeasures dispensing and in DIRCM.

Shadow aircraft, which are based on the King Air 350CER, are operated by 14 Squadron out of RAF Waddington.

Because of the ISR role of the aircraft, it may be required to fly through hostile airspace, necessitating protection from enemy forces.

A particularly deadly threat is heat-seeking, Man-Portable Air-Defence Systems (MANPADS), which are widely employed around the world.

The Shadow’s new defensive aids suite is designed to counter this threat, being able to rapidly defeat incoming missiles.

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George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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David Barry
David Barry
4 years ago

Which ISTR assets were they only just talking about selling off?

Sean Crowley
Sean Crowley
4 years ago

A couple of sidewinders as well would not go astray .