Air Force starts full-scale development of MALD air-defense decoy and electronic warfare system
TUCSON, Ariz., 6 May 2010.Electronic warfare systems designers at Raytheon Co. in Tucson, Ariz., are starting full-scale development of the U.S. Air Force Miniature Air Launched Decoy (MALD) stand-in jammer variant under terms of a $48.9 million contract, announced today.
The Air force gave the go-ahead to Raytheon to begin the engineering, manufacturing and design (EMD) phase of MALD stand-in jammer variant. EMD is the last phase of development before full-scale production.
MALD is a low-cost, air-launched, and programmable aerial decoy that duplicates the flight characteristics and signatures of U.S. and allied aircraft to confuse enemy air defenses, including counter air operations to neutralize air defense systems. The MALD-J adds radar jamming capability to the basic MALD platform without altering the decoy's outer mold line.
Prior to entering EMD, the MALD-J completed all 27 test events, culminating in a free-flight test in December 2009. Raytheon recently completed a second free-flight test of the MALD-J last April 27.
Major suppliers to the MALD system include AML Communications in Camarillo, Calif.; AUSCO in Port Washington, N.Y.; BAE Systems in Berthoud, Colo.; CEI in Sacramento, Calif.; Celestica in Austin, Texas; Eagle Pitcher in Joplin, Mo.; EDO in Bohemia, N.Y.; Enser in Pinellas Park, Fla.; Engineered Fabrics Corp. in Rockmart, Ga.; GDOTS in Redmond, Wash.; Hamilton-Sundstrand in Rockford, Ill. and San Diego; LaBarge in Joplin, Mo.; Moog in East Aurora, N.Y.; and Tecom in Westlake Village, Calif.
For more information contact Raytheon online at www.raytheon.com.
John Keller | Editor
John Keller is editor-in-chief of Military & Aerospace Electronics magazine, which provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronic and optoelectronic technologies in military, space, and commercial aviation applications. A member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since the magazine's founding in 1989, Mr. Keller took over as chief editor in 1995.
