The Development of an Assault Directed Infrared Countermeasures (DIRCM) Program

The purpose of this thesis is to document the history of the development of an Assault Directed Infrared Countermeasures (DIRCM) Program as well as Navy Program Office (PMA272) efforts to date, to initiate a new start ACAT II Program for Navy and Marine Corps helicopters starting in Fiscal Year (FY) 2006. It concentrates on the programmatic aspects of Assault DIRCM and does not go into detail on the design or technical aspects of the development of the system. This thesis will introduce emerging threats to helicopters operating in theater and describe the requirement for a DIRCM technology. It will also highlight program issues based on observations made over the past year as well as provide a recommended path forward for immediate program execution considering internal and external program and acquisition constraints both real and perceived.