South Korea’s test of a self-developed infrared countermeasure device was successful, a Seoul military official said Wednesday.
Sept. 27 (UPI) — South Korea’s test of a self-developed infrared countermeasure device was successful, a Seoul military official said Wednesday.
The device known as Directional Infrared Counter Measures protects aircraft from infrared homing, or « heat-seeking » missiles.
DIRCM was tested in July and yielded desirable results, local newspaper Kyunghyang Shinmun reported.
The device is typically mounted to an aircraft and confuses incoming enemy missiles so they miss their target.
If the device is installed on a South Korean tactical transporter, the aircraft can avoid radar detection and get behind enemy lines to carry out a « beheading operation » that targets the North Korean leadership in the case of an attack from Pyongyang.
The device can also deflect the direction of an enemy missile by sending a signal.
South Korea’s July test of the countermeasure device yielded significant results: All guided missiles used in the tests crashed because the device confused the weapons during live tests.
The device was tested with dozens of guided missiles, according to the South Korean press report.
« DIRCM is essential in infiltrating the enemy hideout, using a special forces aircraft, » a military official told the Kyunghyang.
South Korean defense firm Hanwha Systems is developing the device.
Seoul is to deploy an improved version of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules, a tactical transport aircraft, while pursuing the development of plans for a « beheading operation » that targets the North Korean leadership.
In September 2016 South Korea confirmed it has a military plan to remove Kim Jong Un — a tactic that could be activated in the event of a nuclear attack against the South.
By 2018 DIRCM will be installed on all tactical transporters, South Korea’s military has said.
