Radar-jamming decoy system completes testing

TUCSON, April 15 (UPI) -- Raytheon's Miniature Air Launched Decoy-Jammer is closer to full-rate production for the U.S. Air Force following completion of operational testing.

"MALD-J's unique capabilities have been proven in 42 successful flight tests during the last two years and brought us closer to full rate production," said Mike Jarrett, vice president of Raytheon's Air Warfare Systems. "MALD helps protect warfighters in the battlespace so they can complete their missions and return home safely."

MALD-J is a low-cost decoy flight vehicle with a radar-jamming capability that mimics the combat profiles and radar signatures of U.S. and allied aircraft to confuse enemy air defense systems. The unmanned, programmable system is modular in design and launched from the air. Its range is about 500 miles.

MALD-J, a variant of the MALD system, operates alone or in pairs and closer to hostile radar than conventional electronic warfare systems.

Raytheon did not indicate when it expected the enhanced system to be granted Initial Operational Capability status by the Air Force.