What is it the Elbit J-Music? Hint, similar to the Iron Dome and Trophy APS, but not exactly

The J-Music is part of the wider Elbit Music family DIRCM (Direct Infrared Counter  measures) which protects can aerial platforms against hand held AA heat seeking missiles with laser…and the only operational one in the world.

Completely autonomous

The system works by beaming laser toward the warhead of an incoming missile, confusing its homing device, and diverting it. Similar to the Trophy APS, it’s Autonomous with no man-in-the-loop. System includes  many IR sensors, warning and tracking system and laser beamer. System is located on an external pod in the bottom front of the aerial platform. The laser itself shoots from a glass turret on “top” of the pod. The system is a complete A-Z solution and doesn’t require any additional software or components on the plane. It doesn’t interfere in the planes functionality, payload, fuel consumption or add additional costs. However, unlike what the US Air Force research laboratory is developing, Music isn’t intended to protect planes from real SAM’s. Only from hand held portable missiles.

The system costs 1 million per unit and can fit all platforms. The reason is because it’s “open” architecture and can be configured easily  for any plane without major costs or changes.

Also for civilians planes and helicopters

In rigorous tests it diverted numerous incoming missiles simultaneously. The J-music is a sub variant of the Music family and specifically for medium sized platforms like Tanker, transport and business private VIP planes. other variants are C-Music for larger Civilian and transport planes and Mini-music for small planes and helicopters. The Music protects all aerial platforms in the Israeli air force and civilian’s airline planes (also German AF now). Additionally, it protects planes in the Italian and Brazilian air forces.

The missile that terrorists shot, that almost downed an Israeli civilian plane

El-Op, an Elbits subsidiary, started developing the system in 2002 as part of the “skyshield” program to find a solution against portable AA missiles. By then, it was clear that missiles, in the age of growing global terror threats, became a real threat to civilians planes. The fact that portable AA missiles,mostly Russian, are so cheap and readily available in the black market, made the threat even bigger. In fact, most aerial platforms, civilian or military, downed in the last 30 years were because of portable AA missiles.

The watershed moment and biggest motivator to develop such a system was also in 2002, ironically. In November that year, terrorists tried to shoot down an Israeli Arkia airlines lifting off in Nairobi, Kenya. They launched two Russian made Strela missiles, but both missed in an amazing stroke of luck. The same day, the same cell also bombed a resort in Mombasa killing 15, 3 Israelis and 12 Kenyans. The Perpetrators were an Al-Qaida affiliated group called Itihad Islamiya.

Development skyrockets in priority!

After the attacks, development of the system shot up in priority for the Israeli MOD. They considered numerous technologies but none fit for civilian planes. Heat flares, for example, protect military jets when released by diverting the missiles towards them with the heat extracted from them, thus fooling its infrared. However, heat flares can only be effective with sharp maneuvering by the pilot. Civilian air crafts can’t do such maneuvering, so heat flares weren’t the solution.

In 2009, the technology reached maturity and Israel’s transport ministry decided, officially, to equip all of its civilian planes with it. In 2013, Elbit installed the system on trial basis in one civilian plane, and in 2014 it became officially operational. So far, it gained more than 60K+ operational flight hours in the various air forces that use it.

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