Raytheon
and US Navy begin MALD-J Super Hornet integration
The
U.S. Navy and Raytheon Company have begun integrating the Miniature
Air Launched Decoy Jammer variant into the U.S. Navy's fleet of F/A-18
E/F Super Hornets. The integration process will include a series of
risk reduction activities and technology demonstrations.
MALD® 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).
MALD protects aircraft and their crews by duplicating the combat flight
profiles and signatures of U.S. and allied aircraft. The MALD-J adds
radar-jamming capability to the basic MALD platform.
Raytheon MALD® duplicates the combat flight profiles and signatures
of U.S. and allied aircraft.
The MALD-J adds radar-jamming capability to the basic MALD platform.
(Picture:
Raytheon)
"MALD will save sailors lives because it saturates
enemy integrated air defense systems, causing them to attack the wrong
target instead of attacking our aircraft," said Harry Schulte,
vice president of Air Warfare Systems for Raytheon Missile Systems.
MALD® Cargo Aircraft Launch System (Video: Raytheon)
To ensure that MALD is suitable for shipboard operations,
Raytheon is working with the U.S. Navy to make sure the weapon is capable
of withstanding the rigors of taking off and landing on aircraft carriers.
Raytheon is also leveraging MALD's modularity, enabling sailors to rapidly
change the weapon's electronic warfare payload in response to threats.
About MALD
- MALD confuses enemy air defenses by duplicating friendly aircraft
flight profiles, radar signatures.
- MALD-J keeps all capabilities of MALD and adds jamming capabilities.
Raytheon is scheduled to begin delivering MALD-Js later this year.
