The Anatomy of the MANPAD

摘要

This paper describes the options available for a Man-Portable Air-Defence (MANPAD) weapon. The strengths and weaknesses of the options are quickly discussed and this highlights the choice of the Infrared Surface-to-Air Missile (IRSAM) as the most likely external threat to civil aircraft. The paper then looks at the signature aspects of the aircraft which drives the choice of the operating waveband of the IR seeker. The paper then illustrates how early generation IRSAMs work and finally sets this in the context of platform survivability.