USAF awards Raytheon $96 million for MALD missile production

Raytheon received a U$96 million , contract to produce Miniature Air-Launched Decoys Jammers (MALD-J) missiles, a key step in securing and controlling combat airspace. The US Air Force (USAF) award occurred just prior to Raytheon marking its 2,000th MALD system delivery, and 10th year of on-time customer deliveries. The MALD system is an air-launched missile with both decoy and jamming capabilities that can electronically stimulate and then neutralise enemy air defence systems. Raytheon produces the MALD-J jamming variant and is also developing a system for the US Navy.

The MALD-J EW drone can loiter in the target area for an extended time to help keep manned aircraft out of harm’s way. The MALD-J low-cost, air-launched programmable unmanned aircraft that duplicates the combat flight profiles and signatures of US and allied aircraft.

By duplicating the radar signatures of manned aircraft, the MALD-J can spoof enemy radar and tempt ground-to-air missiles to shoot at the wrong targets. These systems attempt to force enemy missile batteries to run out of missiles to clear the way for manned attack aircraft.

MALD weighs less than 300lbs and has a range of about 500 nautical miles. After it is launched from its host aircraft, MALD flies a pre-programmed mission.

Major suppliers to the MALD system include AML Communications, AUSCO, BAE Systems, CEI, Celestica, Eagle Pitcher, EDO, Enser, Engineered Fabrics Corp., General Dynamics Ordnance Tactical Systems (GDOTS), Hamilton-Sundstrand, LaBarge, Moog and Tecom.