Raytheon to help on decoy, UAV systems

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TUCSON, Feb. 14 (UPI) -- U.S. firms Raytheon and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. have teamed to integrate their air-launched decoy and UAV systems.

A ground verification test phase for the integration of Raytheon's Miniature Air Launched Decoy and GA-ASI's Predator B/MQ-9 Reaper Remotely Piloted Aircraft was successfully conducted in California last November and integration will be completed this year, Raytheon said.

"This new offering provides unprecedented electronic warfare capability enabling remote, unmanned suppression of enemy air defenses," said Harry Schulte, vice president of Air Warfare Systems for Raytheon Missile Systems. "Integrating MALD weaponry on remotely piloted aircraft systems is integral to maintaining air superiority in today's and tomorrow's conflicts."

MALD is a modular and programmable low-cost flight vehicle that protects aircraft by duplicating the combat flight profiles and signatures of U.S. and allied aircraft. In its "J" configuration, radar-jamming capability is added.

When employed, MALD confuses an enemy's target integrated air defense system. Kinetic weaponry is then used to destroy disable IADS nodes.