Special operations aircraft operate primarily at low altitudes and speeds to infiltrate hostile areas and deploy personnel and material covertly. Given this operational framework, integrating advanced defensive systems like Directional Infrared Counte...
Special operations aircraft operate primarily at low altitudes and speeds to infiltrate hostile areas and deploy personnel and material covertly. Given this operational framework, integrating advanced defensive systems like Directional Infrared Countermeasures (DIRCM) is essential for survivability. The Republic of Korea Armed Forces operates aircraft with limited survivability systems against enemy air defense threats. In response, the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) developed an indigenous DIRCM system in 2018. DIRCM integration requires a rigorous test and evaluation (T&E) process, with ground testing as the most critical phase. This includes a Line Replaceable Unit (LRU) performance validation, system integration, functional verification, and interoperability testing. Robust control measures, clear task assignments, and structured procedures must be established. Extensive environmental qualification testing should be conducted to improve extreme temperature flight tests. In addition, laser biohazard assessments from ground-based threat simulators must be incorporated. This study presents a comprehensive DIRCM ground test framework addressing these considerations.