BAE Systems Secures Contract to Develop Cutting-Edge Dual Band Decoy for US Navy.

On May 15, 2024, BAE Systems proudly announced that it had been entrusted with a significant contract by the U.S. Navy. This contract is a testament to our expertise and commitment to innovation, as we embark on the development of the Dual Band Decoy (DBD), a cutting-edge radio frequency (RF) countermeasure.
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BAE Systems will develop Dual Band Decoy (DBD) for the U.S. Navy. (Picture source BAE Systems)

The Dual Band Decoy is not just another RF self-protection jammer. It is a state-of-the-art system, meticulously designed to safeguard fighter jets from hostile attacks. This innovative system, an evolution of the combat-proven AN/ALE-55 Fiber-Optic Towed Decoy, is set to revolutionize aircraft survivability in high-threat environments. Its advanced jamming technologies disrupt enemy radars and mislead incoming missiles, ensuring our aircraft's safety and enhancing our nation's defense capabilities.

The AN/ALE-55 is an advanced electronic warfare system developed by BAE Systems, designed to enhance the survivability of military aircraft by providing robust radio frequency (RF) countermeasures. This fiber-optic towed decoy system operates by emitting powerful jamming signals to confuse and divert incoming enemy radar-guided missiles away from the aircraft. It is connected to the aircraft's onboard electronic warfare equipment through a fiber-optic cable, allowing real-time communication and control. The AN/ALE-55 has been combat-proven and is recognized for its effectiveness in high-threat environments, offering critical protection and increasing the success rate of missions.

According to Don Davidson, Director of the Advanced Compact Electronic Warfare Solutions product line at BAE Systems, "With Dual Band Decoy, we are building on the ALE-55’s years of mission success as a high-powered jamming system. Dual Band Decoy delivers broad capability that can be installed on various aircraft and is upgradeable to address future threats."

The DBD system features BAE Systems' custom integrated circuits, which enable superior performance and greater capability while reducing size, weight, and power consumption. This makes the DBD a critical component of BAE Systems’ Intrepid Shield™ strategy, which aims to create a protective sphere around platforms in highly contested battlespaces using the full electromagnetic spectrum to detect, exploit, and counter advanced threats.

The DBD's initial deployment will be on the U.S. Navy’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, with development and production work to be carried out at BAE Systems' cutting-edge facilities in Nashua, New Hampshire.

This development marks a significant leap forward in electronic warfare technology, promising enhanced protection for U.S. military aircraft and bolstering the nation’s defensive capabilities in an increasingly complex and contested global airspace.