Direct proof of use
Naval Air Systems Command states that the Department of the Navy Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures system was originally fielded under a Headquarters Marine Corps urgent-needs statement on Marine Corps CH-53E helicopters in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in 2009. In the catalog conflict model, Operation Enduring Freedom falls under the 2001 War in Afghanistan.
DOT&E's FY2009 program report gives the Afghanistan-linked deployment in more detail: the Navy fielded DoN LAIRCM as an early operational capability in January 2009 on Marine Corps CH-53E aircraft deployed to support OIF/OEF, and operational data from those theaters was being sent back to the test team.
Sources: NAVAIR DoN LAIRCM Upgrade Contract, DOT&E FY2009 DoN LAIRCM Report
Timeline
In January 2009, DoN LAIRCM began fielding as an early operational capability on Marine Corps CH-53E helicopters deployed to support Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. From March through June 2009, the system underwent initial operational test and evaluation on the CH-53E at Naval Air Warfare Center China Lake, supporting milestone and production decisions.
By late 2009, DOT&E reported that one CH-53E squadron had been fielded with the early operational capability and deployed to U.S. Central Command. In the FY2010 report, DOT&E said the Navy later fielded updated software on CH-53E aircraft and sent personnel in 2010 to the deployed location to collect additional effectiveness and suitability data.
Sources: DOT&E FY2009 DoN LAIRCM Report, DOT&E FY2010 DoN LAIRCM Report
Operational role
The Afghanistan use was a force-protection role rather than an offensive weapon employment. NAVAIR describes DoN LAIRCM as an aircraft survivability system that detects, tracks, and jams surface-to-air infrared missile threats with a high-intensity laser beam. Its 2009 fielding put that defensive suite on Marine Corps CH-53E assault-support helicopters in the OEF theater.
DOT&E describes the same mission in operational terms: combatant commanders would use DoN LAIRCM to protect rotary-wing aircraft from shoulder-fired, vehicle-launched, and other infrared-guided missiles during takeoff and landing, assault landings, tactical descents, resupply, rescue, forward arming and refueling, low-level flight, and aerial refueling.
Sources: NAVAIR DoN LAIRCM Upgrade Contract, DOT&E FY2010 DoN LAIRCM Report
System and platform context
The DoN configuration was a Navy and Marine Corps variant of the Air Force LAIRCM family for Marine Corps helicopters. NAVAIR identifies the AN/AAQ-24(V)25 system and lists five infrared missile-warning sensors, a central processor, a cockpit control indicator, and two pointer-tracker or Guardian Laser Tracker assemblies as the major components.
Public sources do not identify a specific Afghan location, unit name, or missile engagement for the 2009 OEF deployment. The supported claim is narrower: DoN LAIRCM was fielded on Marine Corps CH-53E helicopters deployed for Operation Enduring Freedom and used as aircraft survivability equipment in that conflict.
Sources: NAVAIR DoN LAIRCM Product Page, NAVAIR DoN LAIRCM Upgrade Contract, DOT&E FY2009 DoN LAIRCM Report
