RAYTHEON HAS delivered its first miniature air launched decoy (MALD) to the US Air Force.
MALD, an expendable flight vehicle, emulates a US or allied aircraft to confuse hostile integrated air defence systems (IADS). The system is designed to force an extended shutdown of IADS elements by forcing enemy commanders to differentiate between actual and surrogate targets. This significantly reduces the effectiveness of IADS entities, while increasing their risk of exposure, identification and location.
 MALD weighs less than 300 pounds and has a range of approximately 500 nautical miles. The decoy is capable of flying at ingress speeds, altitudes and in formations that emulate various fighter, attack and bomber aircraft. Preprogrammed mission flight profiles allow a fleet of MALDs to replicate an air strike formation by generating various aircraft signatures that appear genuine to enemy forces.
"The warfighter now has an incredible new capability," said Ken Watson, the US Air Force's MALD programme manager. "MALD will work in concert with other electronic warfare assets as part of a system of systems to shape the electronic warfare battlespace and ensure our aviators and their coalition partners return home safely to their loved ones."
Raytheon spoksperson Michael Nachshen told The News that MALD was expected to help "save the lives of our warfighters and protect valuable aircraft." Nachshen noted that MALD was field tested in the United States, but had not yet pariticipated in combat sorties.
According to Nachshen, MALD's versatile, modular design will enable effects-based application in future combat operations. In addition, various payloads can be utilised to facilitate electronic countermeasure missions, including active jamming of IADS elements. MALD is also an appropriate platform for evaluating evolving weapons and training aircrews against realistic targets.
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