Israel’s Bird Aerosystems announced on 3 February 2025 that is has received a follow-on order from a “NATO European client” for its Aeroshield Missile Protection System (AMPS), which includes the Self Protection Radar Electro-Optic System (SPREOS) directed infra-red countermeasures (DIRCM) system.
“The order, placed by a long-standing NATO client, includes the supply of systems to protect the VIP Dassault Falcon 7X and Airbus A319 aircraft. Delivery is expected in 2025 and also includes system maintenance services,” Bird stated in a press release.
This suggests the client could be the Hungarian Air Force (HAF), which in 2018 purchased two Airbus A319 aircraft (registration numbers 604 and 605) as military troop carriers and two Dassault Falcon 7X business jets (registration numbers 606 and 607) as multi-purpose transport and courier aircraft.
Bird AeroSystems announced on 27 March 2024 that it had successfully installed its SPREOS DIRCM system and AMPS “on multiple Airbus A319 aircraft for an undisclosed European customer”, which ESD believed at the time to be the HAF. It is thus possible that further work has been done on the HAF’s A319s while also fitting out its Falcon 7Xs.
SPREOS detects, tracks, confirms and protects aircraft from missile threats such as manportable air defence systems (MANPADS) and can be seamlessly integrated with various missile warning systems.
AMPS, which is certified on the Falcon 7X and Airbus A319, provides complete protection against ground-to-air threats, including MANPADS attacks, for helicopters and VIP aircraft used by heads of state. The HAF’s Falcon 7Xs are occasionally used by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
With a compact and lightweight design housed within a dedicated pod, the Aeroshield system is easy to install and requires minimal aircraft modifications, according to Bird Aerosystems. Its low-footprint design allows seamless integration and enables the system to be easily transferred between aircraft for optimal fleet management.
“This follow-on order highlights the trust our clients place in Bird Aerosystems and our proven self-protection solutions,” the company’s chief of marketing and vice president of sales, Matan Perry, was quoted as saying in a company press release. “As we witness a growing need for advanced AMPS defence systems and increasing demand globally, we remain committed to delivering high-end, comprehensive solutions that meet the stringent demands of modern airborne defence.”
Perry added that in 2025 the Aeroshield system is scheduled to complete its supplemental type certification on the G-700 and Global-7500 aircraft.
