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CAMPS protection system set for trials
Richard Scott

Saab Avitronics and Chemring Countermeasures have joined forces to develop a cost-effective aircraft self-protection system to counter the MANPADS threat against commercial, transport, military special mission and VIP aircraft.

The system, known as CAMPS (Civil Aircraft Missile Protection System), will begin flight trials in South Africa next month. Conceived to meet specific requirements for civilian aircraft self protection, CAMPS has been engineered to take full account of system safety, cost, operability and effectiveness aspects. The system has also been designed to allow for easy installation on board existing aircraft with virtually no aerodynamic drag penalty.

The full system consists of Saab Avitronics’ MAW 300 missile approach warner (four sensors), a central electronic unit, and two or more BOA decoy dispensers (depending on the aircraft size and type). BOA is an electromechanical dispenser

designed to dispense a new non-pyrotechnical infrared (IR) decoy developed by Chemring to overcome the safety issues associated with conventional pyrotechnical decoys.

CAMPS automatically detects missiles fired towards the aircraft, and initiates decoy launch to lure the missile IR seeker away from the aircraft. The system is claimed to be effective against multiple short range missile launches.

The new BOA dispenser and the IR decoys have already been flight tested in Sweden and the UK.Testing to take place in March will mark the first flight trials of the complete CAMPS suite.