SYS-TEM.
The wire strike protection system (Figure 4-25) consists of three cutter assemblies, a windshield channel and a nose deflector. An upper cutter assembly is mounted on top of the pilot station, forward of the ADF loop antenna.
A chin cutter assembly is mounted under the nose just forward of the gunner station. A lower cutter assembly is mounted on the forward fuselage, under the ammuni-tion compartment. The wire strike protecammuni-tion system is designed to protect the helicopter from wire obstructions at low levels of flight.
MS018158
Figure 4-25. Wire Strike Protection System
4-29. DESCRIPTION OF DISPENSER, GEN-ERAL PURPOSE, M-130.
The dispenser, general purpose, aircraft, M130 (NSN 1095-01-036-6886) consists of a single system (dis-penser assembly, payload module assembly, electron-ics module, and dispenser control panel) designed to dis-pense chaff M-1 from U.S. Army helicopters and fixed wing aircraft. The system, common to Army aircraft, pro-vides effective survival countermeasures against radar guided weapon systems threats. The dispenser system M130 has the capability of dispensing up to 30 chaff car-tridges.
NOTE
The flare dispenser function is not employed In the AH-1 helicopter.
The dispenser system functions in the following manner:
When a crew member sights a missile launch or receives a radar warning, he will press a firing switch. The air-craft’s power supply (28V dc) will immediately pulse (via the dispenser control panel) the programmer section of the electronics module, and signal the dispenser assem-bly. This activates the sequencer assembly, completing the circuit to the contact pin in the breech assembly. The current in this completed circuit initiates the impulse car-tridge forcing the chaff out of the payload.
4-30. DISPENSER SUB-SYSTEMS.
a. Dispenser Control Panel. The dispenser con-trol panel (DCP) contains a manual ARM-SAFE switch which is provided to arm the dispenser system. When the ARM-SAFE switch is moved to the ARM position and the safety flag pin(s) has been removed from the system safety switch(s), the ARM lamp will light. The control panel counters indicate the number of chaff (cartridges) remaining in the payload module. The counters are manually set prior to each mission to agree with the num-ber of chaffs loaded. The two-way MANUAL, PRO-GRAMMED switch controls the firing of chaff. When the switch is in PROGRAMMED position, the number of bursts (series of shots) per salvo (any number of bursts) fired is automatically controlled by the preset program-mer. The MANUAL position of the switch by-passes the programmer and fires one chaff cartridge each time the firing switch is activated.
b. Dispenser Assembly. The dispenser assembly contains the breech assembly, flare sensor, selector switch for flare or chaff (marked C or F), reset switch, and a housing containing the sequencer assembly. The sequencer assembly receives power through the firing switches circuit and furnishes pulses to each of the 30 contacts of the breech assembly, in
se-quential order 1 through 30, thus firing each of the im-pulse cartridges.
c. Payload Module Assembly. The payload module assembly consists of the payload module and re-taining plate assembly. The payload module has 30 chambers which will accept either chaff or flares. Flares or chaff are loaded through the studded end of the pay-load module, one per chamber, and secured in place by the retaining plate assembly. The payload module as-sembly is assembled to the dispenser asas-sembly.
d. Electronics Module Assembly. The EM contains a programmer and a cable assembly which includes a 28-volt supply receptacle and a safety switch activated by insertion of the safety pin with flag assembly.
On some aircraft installations the 28-volt supply recep-tacles and the safety switch have been included in the aircraft cable and are therefore remote from the EM. The programmer consists of a programming circuit which al-lows for the setting of chaff burst number, chaff salvo number, chaff burst interval and chaff salvo interval.
4-31. CHAFF DISPENSER, M-130.
a. The function of the M130 chaff countermeasure system is to provide an effective airborne countermea-sure against enemy infrared missiles and radar con-trolled weapons, thereby reducing an enemy’s capability to damage or destroy U.S. Army aircraft.
b. Aircrew members are required to maintain visual coverage around the aircraft when in a hostile area for IR missiles that have been launched against the aircraft.
The crew member who observes a missile launch will ini-tiate the dispensing of the counter-measure flares in ac-cordance with prescribed tactics for the aircraft.
c. The aircraft’s radar warning receiver (RWR) will provide the alert to the pilot and co-pilot when the aircraft is being tracked by a radar-guided anti-aircraft weapon system. To be effective as a radar decoy the dispensing of chaff must be accompanied with an appropriate air-craft maneuver in accordance with prescribed tactics for the aircraft.
d. Upon receiving an alert from the aircraft radar warning system, the pilot or gunner will dispense chaff by depressing his chaff dispensing switch and initiate an evasive maneuver. The number of burst/salvo and num-ber of salvo/program and their intervals will be set into the programmer, as indicated above, prior to take-off. If desired, the operator may override the programmed op-erational mode and fire chaff countermeasures manual-ly. Manual operation is achieved by changing the posi-tion of the two-way MANUAL PROGRAMMED switch from PROGRAMMED to MANUAL and then depressing firing switch.
e. The M130 dispenser system should not be fired unless a missile launch is observed or radar-guided weapon system is detected with lock on. If a system mal-function is suspected, the aircraft commander may au-thorize attempt(s) to dispense chaff to test the system.
f. The crew member who observes the missile launch or a radar warning indication and dispenses the first flares or chaff will advise the other crew members that a missile launch has been observed or a radar warn-ing signal has been received and that a flare or chaff has been dispensed. Other crew members will continue watching for additional missile launches.
g. The chaff dispenser will eject chaff one at a time in the manual mode or according to the setting of the pro-grammer when set in the PROGRAM mode. The follow-ing program settfollow-ings are provided.
Number of burst/salvo 1 2 3 4 6 8 Burst interval (sec) 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 Number salvo/program 1 2 4 8 C (Continuous) Salvo interval (sec) 1 2 3 4 5 8 R R = Random (sec) = 3 5 2 4 3 5 2 4 3 5
NOTE
The small round dot on each control knob shall be aligned with each setting number as desired.
h. Crew Responsibilities.
(1) Perform daily PRE-FLIGHT/RE-ARM tests.
(2) Confirm that the number of chaff cartridges in the payload module are the same as shown on the dis-penser control panel counter(s).
(3) Confirm chaff flare (CF) selector switch on dispenser assembly is set to proper dispense mode.
(4) Confirm pre-planned chaff program is prop-erly set on electronics module if system is to dispense chaff.
(5) Remove safety pins(s) and flag assembly(s) prior to boarding aircraft.
(6) After the aircraft is airborne the aircraft commander assumes responsibility for arming the M130 system.
MS018159
Figure 4-26. Chaff Dispenser, Gunner/Pilot