Airbus has secured a contract from Germany’s defense procurement authority (BAAINBw) to upgrade 23 Airbus A400M military transport aircraft with Directed Infrared Counter Measures (DIRCM) systems. This initiative aims to bolster the survivability of the Luftwaffe’s tactical airlift fleet against infrared-guided missile threats.
Enhanced protection for tactical missions
The A400M, developed by Airbus Defence and Space, is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed to perform both strategic and tactical missions. Its capabilities include transporting heavy and oversized loads, aerial refueling, and medical evacuation.
“Transporting troops, equipment and humanitarian supplies; refuelling other aircraft and helicopters in the air; serving as a flying hospital for the treatment of wounded personnel – the Airbus A400M is the face and workhorse of the German Air Force,” commented Gerd Weber, Head of the A400M program at Airbus Defence and Space. “The new DIRCM system will provide A400M crews with even greater protection during their missions around the world and expand the already broad range of applications for this exceptional aircraft.”
The 23 A400Ms designated for the DIRCM upgrade are primarily employed in tactical operations, including medical evacuations and humanitarian missions in high-threat environments. The integration of DIRCM systems will enhance the aircraft’s self-protection capabilities.
In contrast, the remaining A400Ms in the German fleet, which are configured for logistical missions such as the long-range transport of troops and heavy equipment, will not receive the DIRCM upgrade, as they typically operate in less contested airspace.
Autonomous defense against missile threats
The protection system, developed by Israel’s Elbit Systems, detects and tracks incoming infrared-guided missiles before directing a focused laser beam to disrupt the missile’s seeker head, effectively diverting it from its target. The system is fully autonomous, providing 360-degree threat detection and rapid response with minimal crew intervention.
Airbus will carry out the installation of the DIRCM systems during scheduled maintenance at its facilities in Manching, Germany, as well as in Getafe and Seville, Spain. Currently, Airbus is testing the DIRCM system on a German A400M at its facility in Seville, with certification expected by summer 2025. The full integration across the 23 aircraft is projected to be completed by 2032.
Beyond installation, the contract includes comprehensive support services, such as training for pilots and maintenance crews, technical support, and the provision of necessary tools and documentation to ensure optimal system performance.
A broader NATO trend in airborne self-protection
Germany’s efforts reflect a growing recognition within NATO that even non-combat platforms such as transports, refuelers, and ISR aircraft must be equipped with robust defensive systems in light of the proliferation of portable air defense systems (MANPADS) and other infrared-guided threats.
In October 2024, the UK Ministry of Defence reported the successful trial of its own laser self-protection suite at the Vidsel Test Range in Sweden. That system, developed by Team Pellonia (Leonardo UK, Thales UK, and Dstl), achieved a 100% success rate in neutralizing incoming infrared-guided missile threats during live-fire scenarios. It will eventually be deployed on RAF aircraft such as the Shadow R2 and A400M.
