Raytheon Wins US Navy’s Miniature Air-Launched Decoy Contract

The US Navy has awarded Raytheon a $112 million modification contract for Miniature Air-Launched Decoys (MALDs), capable of duplicating combat flight profiles and signatures of US and allied aircraft.

“This modification provides non-recurring engineering support throughout the engineering and manufacturing development phase as well as through payload integration and transition to production for the MALD-N,” Raytheon said in a statement Monday.

According to Raytheon, the MALD decoy is an expendable air-launched flight vehicle that looks like a US or allied aircraft to enemy integrated air defense systems, or IADS.

The enemy IADS can be deceived by sending a formation of MALD decoys into hostile airspace. Weighing less than 300 pounds, the weapon has a range of approximately 500 nautical miles (575 statute miles). After it is launched from its host aircraft, the MALD decoy flies a pre-programmed mission.

“In addition to protecting valuable aircraft, the weapon offers counter-air operations to neutralize air defense systems that pose a threat to US and allied pilots,” the company claims.