OVERVIEW: Protean is the export version of the Philax naval countermeasure system, originally developed in Sweden in the late 1970s. It is a deck-mounted launcher designed to dispense radar-reflective chaff and infrared decoys to protect fast-attack craft and small warships.

DETAILS: Philax/Protean launchers consist of modular banks each holding up to four 36-round magazines, two of which can be configured with IR flare cartridges as needed. The system integrates with shipborne electronic support measures (like Matilda/MATILDE) to enable automatic decoy deployment upon detection of radar-guided threats. Initially adopted by the Swedish Navy, it saw subsequent export under the Protean name to navies including Finland, South Korea, Egypt, and Singapore, remaining in production through the late 1990s .

FONCTION:
Threat identified by ESM sensors triggers system activation.
Launcher deploys chaff or IR decoys based on identified threat.
Creates off-board signature to seduce or distract incoming missiles away from the vessel.

SOURCE:
Forecast International PDF (ARC_ID 718) ; Forecast International PDF (ARC_ID 825) ; Forecast International (Racal Electronics plc profile)