ADM-160 MALD

The ADM -160 Miniature Air Launched Decoy ( MALD ) is an in-process radar decoy drone of the U.S. company Raytheon.

Operation

Radar decoy drones are used to reduce the effectiveness of enemy air defenses. For this purpose, such a so-called UAV Signature Augmentation System (SAS ) which is able to increase the radar cross-section by a multiple of the drone. In addition, MALD will be able to simulate the exact radar profile of a fighter plane or bomber. Consequently, a MALD drone sees on the radar as a normal combat aircraft (eg F -16 or F -15). This property opens up various opportunities to weaken the enemy's air defenses and deceive. So you can lure with MALD drones enemy fighter aircraft of its own, allowing them to freely reach their goals. Nor can the enemy air defense with MALD - drones " saturate ", ie one offers this in more goals than they can fight. This saturation is beneficial to the own aircraft, since they can be not at all or only partially tackled now.

Development

The predecessor of the MALD - drone is the ADM -20 Quail drone which was put out of service in 1978. The development of MALD began in the mid -1990s, as Teledyne Ryan and other companies were asked for suggestions for a small, air- launched decoys. In May 2003, the Group Raytheon was selected by the U.S. Air Force as a producer, the director of the project is the responsibility of DARPA. To date (February 2008) 33 of 35 flight tests were successful, which have been conducted since June 2007. In addition, Raytheon was commissioned in April 2008 to complete the development of the MALD -J variant for active radar disorder until 2011. Meanwhile, the program has been verified by the U.S. Department of Defense, so that the pre-production will start in 2008. In January 2009, Raytheon received U.S. $ 12 million made ​​available to carry out studies on an improved " Block II " variant, which is to include a new data link and increased radiation performance. The first flight test took place on 13 January 2010.

Currently an order for 1,500 MALD 's is located at a targeted price of approximately $ 30,000 U.S. before. The U.S. Air Force accepted the first small series models, on 17 March 2009. Until May 2010 Raytheon delivered from over 100 missiles.

Technology

The drone is powered by a very small TJ -50 turbojet with 0.22 kN of thrust, which is a product of the DARPA Small Engine Advanced Program and Hamilton Sundstrand is delivered. Core of the drone is the SAS (Signature Augmentation System ), which can simulate almost any aircraft for the radar. Due to the modular electronics it is also possible to incorporate other payloads, such as active radar jammer. Go to navigation MALD used a coupled GPS / INS system. It can be further up to 256 waypoints before the start option. MALD can be used due to its pivoting wings of almost every U.S. aircraft, even from the F -22 (internal).

Specifications

Raytheon Miniature Air Launched ADM -160 Decoy

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