Raytheon Miniature Air Launched Decoy Jammer protect manned aircraft in U.S. Air Force test

Posted by Courtney E. HowardTUCSON, Ariz., 7 Sept. 2011. The Miniature Air Launched Decoy Jammer (MALD-J) from Raytheon Company (NYSE:RTN) protected manned aircraft during U.S. Air Force tests in a simulated operational environment. The MALD-J modular, air-launched, programmable flight vehicle weighs less than 300 pounds and has a range of approximately 500 nautical miles (or roughly 575 statute miles). Raytheon’s current MALD family includes the baseline MALD and MALD-J stand-in jammer variant. The baseline MALD, now in production, mimics the signatures and combat flight profiles of U.S. and allied aircraft to protect aircrew and airborne systems. The MALD-J helps to protect aircrew and airborne systems by reducing or eliminating the need for manned stand-in jamming aircraft.

Multiple MALD-Js in free flight, as well as multiple captive-carry MALD-Js, conducted electronic attack missions during the flight test, which is being called the most rigorous and complex to date. The event demonstrated MALD-J's ability to operate in a dynamic environment with a manned aircraft strike package.

"This test marked the greatest number of multiple Raytheon MALD vehicles airborne at once and demonstrated MALD-J's ability to protect manned aircraft," explains Harry Schulte, vice president of Raytheon Missile Systems' Air Warfare Systems product line. "Completion of this test also removes the last major hurdle toward MALD-J completing a Functional Configuration Audit."

Government personnel conducting a Functional Configuration Audit (FCA) validate that the system meets all requirements and performs to specifications. Following the completion of the FCA, U.S. Air Force officials could authorize a Milestone C decision, required to begin production, by the end of 2011.