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In early 2004, L-3 Com AVISYS Corporation (hereinafter referred to as L-3 AVISYS or AVISYS) completed a
contract for the integration and deployment of an advanced Infrared Countermeasures self-protection suite for a
Head of State Airbus A340 aircraft. This initial L-3 AVISYS IRCM Suite was named WIPPS (Widebody Integrated
Platform Protection System). The A340 WIPPS installation provisions were FAA certified with the initial
deployment of the modified aircraft. WIPPS is unique in that it utilizes a dual integrated missile warning subsystem
to produce a robust, multi-spectral, ultra-low false alarm rate threat warning capability. WIPPS utilizes the Thales
MWS-20 Pulsed Doppler Radar Active MWS and the EADS AN/AAR-60 Ultraviolet Passive MWS. These MWS
subsystems are integrated through an L-3 AVISYS Electronic Warfare Control Set (EWCS). The EWCS also
integrates the WIPPS MWS threat warning information with the A340 flight computer data to optimize ALE-47
Countermeasure Dispensing System IR decoy dispensing commands, program selection and timing. WIPPS utilizes
standard and advanced IR Decoys produced by ARMTEC Defense and Alloy Surfaces. WIPPS demonstrated that
when IR decoy dispensing is controlled by threat range and time-to-go information provided by an Active MWS,
unsurpassed self protection levels are achievable.
Recognizing the need for high volume civil aviation protection, L-3 AVISYS configured a variant of WIPPS
optimized for commercial airline reliability requirements, safety requirements, supportability and most importantly,
affordability. L-3 AVISYS refers to this IRCM suite as CAPS (Commercial Airliner Protection System). CAPS has
been configured for applications to all civil aircraft ranging from the small Regional Jets to the largest Wide-bodies.
This presentation and paper will provide an overview of the initial WIPPS IRCM Suite and the important factors that
were considered in defining the CAPS configuration.
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