Tel Aviv. Israeli company BIRD Aerosystems has won a new contract in Central Europe. According to the contract, BIRD Aerosystems will upgrade and improve the Airborne Missile Protection Systems (AMPS), which were previously provided to the Czech Air Force.

BIRD’s AMPS were installed on the Czech Air Force Mi-17 helicopters and successfully and operationally deployed in different dangerous and complicated conflict zones, including Afghanistan. The overall program includes an upgrade to the MILDS UV detection sensors and the MCDU Mission computers provided by BIRD Aerosystems as well as provision for future installation of BIRD’s MACS Missile Approach Confirmation Sensor.

“We see this as a sign of proof for the operational value that BIRD’s AMPS were deployed in various missions, including missions in Afghanistan – where the Czech Air Force was operating as part of the NATO forces,” said Ronen Factor, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Founder at BIRD Aerosystems.

He added: “We believe that this overall improvement will allow the Czech Air force to keep focusing on important operational missions while knowing that their force is protected.”

According to the Israeli company its AMPS provides the most enhanced protection for military and civilian aircraft against all known Surface to Air Missiles (SAM), including MANPADS, Laser Beam Rider threats and radar-guided missiles.

AMPS automatically detect, verify, and foil SAM attacks through the effective use of counter-measure decoys (Flares and Chaff) or DIRCM that jam the missile’s IR seeker and protect the aircraft. AMPS is provided as a turn-key solution that includes installation design, installation integration, certification, and support, and is certified by leading aircraft manufacturers.

-The writer is an Israel-based freelance journalist