UN Air Operations has had an AMPS-MV airborne missile protection system, which includes the MACS sensor, installed on its Mi-17 helicopters. The system, installed by Israel-based defence technology company BIRD Aerosystems, is ready for immediate operational use to protect UN Air Operations VIPs when flying in Africa.

This is a follow-on order that comes after several previous installations of BIRD’s solutions on UN Air Operations aircraft in recent years.

Operationally deployed in dangerous conflict areas worldwide, BIRD’s AMPS provides enhanced protection for military and civilian aircraft against the growing threat of ground-to-air missiles. AMPS automatically detects, verifies and foils SAM attacks through the effective use of countermeasure decoys (flares and chaff) and by Directional Infrared Countermeasures that jam the missile’s IR seeker and protect the aircraft. The AMPS-MV includes BIRD Aerosystems' patented Missile Approach Confirmation Sensor (MACS), which performs unique confirmation of suspected incoming missile threats detected by the main electro-optical passive sensors, practically eliminating false alarms. MACS ensures that only actual missiles will be declared by the system and reacted upon.

BIRD co-CEO and founder Ronen Factor says: “Providing the highest level of protection for its personnel, the UN Air Operations again chooses to equip its aircraft with BIRD’s AMPS. As the conflict in Ukraine shows us, the importance of these systems for the protection of soldiers’ lives is undoubted.”