Raytheon’s miniature air launched decoy-jammer (MALD-J) has successfully completed operational trials from an undisclosed location.

The jammer was jointly conducted by Raytheon and the US Air Force (USAF). It satisfied all requirements during testing moving closer to full-rate production and initial operational capability.

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Raytheon Air Warfare Systems vice-president Mike Jarrett said: "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.

"MALD helps protect warfighters in the battlespace so they can complete their missions and return home safely."

"MALD-J’s unique capabilities have been proven in 42 successful flight tests during the last two years."

MALD-J weighs less than 300lb. It is a close-in jammer designed to degrade and prevent an early warning or acquisition radar from establishing a track on a strike aircraft, while also maintaining the ability to fulfil the basic decoy mission.

The unmanned jammer is employed from the F-16 Fighting Falcon and B-52 bomber. It is capable of navigating and operating closer to hostile radars when compared to the conventional electronic warfare (EW) systems, thus keeping aviators and aircraft away from enemy’s path.

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The device is designed to work with and use other electronic warfare (EW) platforms. It can function either as a stand-alone system or in pairs, and can also loiter in the target area for an extended period of time, ensuring mission completion.

In particular, the weapon adds radar-jamming capability to the basic ADM-160B MALD platform, which confuses enemy integrated air defence systems through accurate duplication of all combat flight profiles and radar signatures of the US and Allied Aircraft in the battlefield.

Raytheon started deliveries of MALD-Js to the USAF in 2012.

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