India moves to address fighter jet shortfalls amid rising regional pressures
Delays, dwindling squadrons and global competition spur belated momentum in airpower procurement.
Miysis DIRCM system. (Photo: Leonardo)
Leonardo on 29 June announced a contract to provide its Miysis Directed Infrared Countermeasure (DIRCM) missile protection system for an unnamed Middle Eastern government’s new VVIP transport aircraft.
Miysis will be installed on a Bombardier Global 7500 aircraft (the first of its type to be selected by a government customer). The aircraft is expected to enter service in 2022.
The DIRCM system will provide ‘complete spherical protection for the aircraft and, uniquely for a system of its size, can output more than enough laser energy to protect the Global 7500 aircraft from even the most modern infrared-guided (heat-seeking) missile threats’, Leonardo noted.
The latest contract follows orders for Miysis DIRCM from the UK (for the Shadow R1 ISTAR aircraft), Canada (for the CP-140 Aurora maritime patrol aircraft) and three other NATO customers, as well as several non-NATO customers.
Miysis DIRCM works by shining a high-powered laser onto an incoming missile’s targeting system, ‘dazzling’ it and guiding the missile away from the aircraft.
Unlike competing products, Leonardo claimed, Miysis DIRCM can defend against multiple, simultaneous incoming missiles and the latest generation of shoulder-launched IR-guided MANPADS.
According to Shephard Defence Insight, Miysis can be used as a standalone DIRCM or integrated with other onboard self-protection systems.
Delays, dwindling squadrons and global competition spur belated momentum in airpower procurement.
The $510 million partnership will see Hanwha invest to co-develop and manufacture the Gray Eagle STOL, with a maiden flight test expected by 2027.
The country was reportedly “months” away from an official aircraft selection, as of mid-March 2025.
The ongoing study was first announced by Embraer in late 2024 with the Brazilian Air Force, with this latest addition announced during the LAAD defence and security exhibition.
The potential sale, approved by the US to the Philippines, is for 20 F-16 Block 70/72 jets, days after US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth visited the country.
The acquisition of four C-390 aircraft follows the country’s signing of an MoU in 2023 and formal selection in 2024. It will join the existing contract held by the Netherlands and Austria.