Tucson-based Raytheon Missile Systems will begin low-rate initial production of a radar-jamming decoy drone for the U.S. Air Force.
The Air Force exercised a contract option and awarded Raytheon $5 million to produce the Miniature Air-Launched Decoy-J (MALD-J), converting an earlier production order for the baseline, nonjamming MALD model, Raytheon said.
With a range of about 575 miles, the jet-powered MALD is launched from aircraft and protects air crews and their aircraft by mimicking the combat flight profiles and signatures of U.S. and allied aircraft. The MALD-J version adds radar-jamming capability.
The expendable MALD-J will save lives by allowing commanders to conduct stand-in jamming missions without risking manned aircraft and crews, Harry Schulte, vice president of Raytheon Missile Systems' Air Warfare Systems product line, said in prepared remarks.
People are also reading…
About 125 Raytheon employees make the MALD, Schulte noted.
Raytheon may soon have other customers for the MALD.
Earlier this year, the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Crane, Indiana, filed an acquisition notice that it intends to spend up to $12.5 million to develop the MALD-J through 2016. However, funding has yet to be appropriated.
A document approving Raytheon Missile Systems as a noncompetitive provider said the Navy has requirements for "stand-in" jamming - which require jamming craft to fly in range of air defenses - that "are more stringent that the Air Force's."
The public version of the document was redacted to remove references to systems the MALD-J might replace or the aircraft that might be adapted to carry the drone.
The MALD and MALD-J have initially been designed to be carried by F-16 fighter jets and B-52 bombers.
But Raytheon also is working to adapt the MALD to cargo aircraft such as the C-130 and C-17, Raytheon spokesman Mike Nachshen said.
Putting MALDs on cargo planes allows more of the drones to be carried into a combat zone, frees up combat aircraft and allows technicians to reprogram the drones in midflight, among other advantages, Nachshen said.
Separately, Raytheon officials recently told a group of visiting journalists from India that the company has responded to a request for information from the Indian air force to supply a High Speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT) missile - a role the MALD could fill.
Earlier this year, India narrowed down its wish list for a new multi-role fighter jet to two European aircraft. But in recent years, India has purchased C-130J Super Hercules transports for cargo and special operations.
Contact assistant business editor David Wichner at dwichner@azstarnet.com or 573-4181.