This January, BIRD Aerosystems announced the receipt of a significant order from an African Ministry of Defense (MOD) to supply its Airborne Missile Protection System (AMPS). This cutting-edge solution will be deployed to protect the fleet of Mi-17 and Mi-24 helicopters from advanced missile threats, including MANPADS. Delivery is expected during 2025.
The AMPS family of solutions is engineered to detect, verify, and neutralize threats with unmatched precision. A key system of the AMPS family is BIRD’s Self Protection Radar Electro-Optic System (SPREOS) DIRCM, which integrates multiple functions-threat detection, confirmation, tracking, and jamming -into a single, compact Line Replaceable Unit (LRU). With virtually zero false alarm rates and optimized jamming techniques, SPREOS ensures unparalleled protection for airborne platforms.
Ronen Factor, Co-Chief Executive Officer of BIRD Aerosystems, commented: “Our systems are installed on over 700 aerial platforms globally, delivering unmatched protection in the most dangerous conflict zones, including Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Southern Sudan and other current conflicts. The AMPS technology, with its proven track record and cutting-edge capabilities, ensures the highest levels of operational security. This latest order reinforces BIRD’s leadership in advanced DIRCM and airborne self-protection systems.”
Bird Aerosystems has continue to enjoy patronage from African militaries. BIRD’s solutions are operationally deployed by different customers in Africa, including forces of the UN operating in Mali, Somalia, and other conflict zones.
In August 2019, the Israeli company received a contract from the United Nations to provide its airborne missile protection system (AMPS) to the Mi-17 helicopters operating in Africa.
By December 2019, Bird introduced the AeroShield(M): a compact version of its combat-proven all-in-one AeroShield pod.
Again, in November 2021, the company announced that it had delivered its AMPS-MD with the SPREOS DIRCM to another customer, and successfully installed it on his Mi-17 helicopters.
The systems were tested by the customer and approved for operational use on the helicopters. BIRD provided all installation, design and certification services, and will keep supporting the customer with a long-term maintenance and support program in the coming years.
In October 2022, Bird presented its Airborne Surveillance, Information and Observation (ASIO) solutions and AMPS Missile Protection Systems at the Africa Airforce Forum in Senegal.
