TUCSON, Ariz., 16 Jan. 2009. Raytheon Company won from the U.S. Air Force a $12.2 million contract to study the feasibility of increasing power and adding a data-link capability to the Miniature Air Launched Decoy-Jammer (MALD-J).
"This effort will allow us to evaluate the technical maturity of a radio frequency data link and to study further increases in jammer power levels," says Ken Watson, the U.S. Air Force's MALD program manager. "This will enhance MALD-J's ability to function as a key component in a system of electronic warfare systems."
MALD-J is a state-of-the-art, low-cost flight vehicle that is modular, air-launched, and programmable. It weighs less than 300 pounds and has a range of approximately 500 nautical miles (about 575 statute miles).
The contract calls for Raytheon to integrate a data link and more powerful jammer amplifiers into the baseline MALD/MALD-J vehicle. Raytheon will also determine the technical feasibility and performance capability of MALD-J Block II prior to building and flight testing the new vehicle.
