ALE-50 Towed Decoy System

The AN/ALE-50 ( JETDS designation) is a towed decoy for the protection of fighter aircraft. It is produced by the U.S. company Raytheon.

Description

The ALE -50 is designed to protect a carrier aircraft against radar-guided missiles. To achieve this goal, a completely new approach was chosen: Instead of the usual Chaffs a device is used, which is towed behind the aircraft on a cable and produces a very large radar cross-section by means of a special broadcasting technology. This cross-section is significantly higher than that of the carrier aircraft, which the drag bait for approaching missile is a more attractive target. Since the bait is towed behind the machine, the steering system of the missile can differ significantly worse between target and decoy because it can not be identified by Doppler filters as such, as in Chaff was still possible.

The system itself consists of several towed radar baits, a starting device and a control system. Depending on the size of the carrier platform two to eight baits are carried, which rely on the boot device command and to be pulled by a cable in a few dozen meters behind the machine. The system remains operational even with strong maneuvers. The bait should be made and destroyed, the cable is collected, and a further bait is exposed. If this, however, the threat survives intact, it may also be collected and later used again.

The system was introduced in 1996 and has already proved itself in many conflicts, such as in Kosovo or Iraq war. Due to the success of over 25,000 tow lures have been produced and delivered, each bait costs about 22,000 U.S. dollars.

Platforms

• F- 14D Super Tomcat
• F- 16C / D Fighting Falcon
• F/A-18E/F Super Hornet
• B-1B Lancer