Protection Systems Air
Rheinmetall offers a wide range of high-effective active and passive protection solutions.
Rheinmetall develops highly efficient spectrally balanced decoys, array flares and spot flares for protecting carrier aircrafts, helicopters and jets from modern infrared surface-to-air and air-to-air guided missiles. Crisis reaction forces can use these decoys, for example, as can civil aviation operators.
Furthermore Rheinmetall develops passive system solutions for protecting from ballistic threats by applying the latest modular composite technologies.
Bi-spectral IR decoy Birdie 118 and 218
The Birdie flares are specially balanced infrared (IR) decoys available in the calibres 1 x 1 x 8" and 2 x 1 x 8". The flare is designed for protection of any kind of helicopters, transport aircraft and jets. Through replication of the aircraft signature in the mid-wave infrared Birdie perfectly decoys modern surface-to-air missiles (SAM) and air-to-air missiles (AAM) with 2-colour ratio discrimination. The effectiveness of Birdie is seeker tested and operationally proven.
Helicopter Armour Protection
Rheinmetall provides light weight protection for helicopters based e.g. on composite material. The protection components can include the cockpit protection, floor protection, side protection, lateral protection, seat protection and protection of other vital parts. Projects like for the NH 90 and Tiger were realized according to STANAG 4569 and customer specifications.
Military Object Protection VERHA-Air
One of the greatest challenges for modern armies is equipping vehicles, helicopters and ships with the maximum possible protection while keeping additional weight to a minimum. VERHA-Air (Versatile Rheinmetall Armour) is made of various materials tested for its suitability for military use, such as individually coated aramid, high performance polyethylene and glassfibre. Against higher threat levels these materials can be combined with various kinds of ballistic ceramics for optimum security and optimum mobility.