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ADM-160 MALD
The ADM-160 MALD (Miniature Air-Launched Decoy) is an air-launched, expendable decoy missile developed by the United States. Later variants (MALD-J) are additionally equipped with electronic countermeasures to actively jam early warning and target acquisition radars. Its first known combat use was in May 2023 by the Ukrainian Air Force in the Russo-Ukrainian war.
The Miniature Air-Launched Decoy (MALD) program was begun in 1995 by DARPA in an effort to develop a small, low-cost decoy missile for use in the Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD). In 1996, Teledyne Ryan, acquired by Northrop Grumman in 1999, was granted a development contract for the ADM-160A. In 1999, the first test flight took place. The evaluation program was finished by 2001.
The US Air Force planned to acquire several thousand of ADM-160As. In 2001, this was reduced to 150 at most, for a System Development and Demonstration (SDD) program. In January 2002, the USAF cancelled the program because the drone didn't have enough range and endurance to meet the service's requirements or to perform other missions.
The ADM-160A carries a Signature Augmentation Subsystem (SAS) of various active radar enhancers which cover a range of frequencies. The SAS can therefore simulate any aircraft, from the B-52 Stratofortress to the F-117 Nighthawk.
The missile has folded wings to allow more compact carriage. On launch the wings unfold and a TJ-50 turbojet propels the missile on a predetermined course, which is composed of up to 100 different waypoints. An inertial navigation system with GPS support keeps the MALD on course. Although preprogrammed before the aircraft leaves the ground, the course can be modified by the pilot at any point up to launch.
In 2002, the USAF renewed its interest in an air-launched decoy and started a new industry-wide competition for a variant with greater endurance. In Spring 2003, the contract for a new MALD was awarded to Raytheon.
The Raytheon ADM-160B is similar in configuration to the ADM-160A, but has a trapezoidal fuselage cross section and is larger and heavier. It is powered by a Hamilton Sundstrand TJ-150, a more powerful variant of the TJ-50.
The first ADM-160B was delivered in Spring 2009. In 2010 an "operationally significant quantity" of the drones were delivered to the Air Force. The USAF at one time[when?] planned to procure about 1,500.[citation needed]
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ADM-160 MALD AI simulator
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ADM-160 MALD
The ADM-160 MALD (Miniature Air-Launched Decoy) is an air-launched, expendable decoy missile developed by the United States. Later variants (MALD-J) are additionally equipped with electronic countermeasures to actively jam early warning and target acquisition radars. Its first known combat use was in May 2023 by the Ukrainian Air Force in the Russo-Ukrainian war.
The Miniature Air-Launched Decoy (MALD) program was begun in 1995 by DARPA in an effort to develop a small, low-cost decoy missile for use in the Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD). In 1996, Teledyne Ryan, acquired by Northrop Grumman in 1999, was granted a development contract for the ADM-160A. In 1999, the first test flight took place. The evaluation program was finished by 2001.
The US Air Force planned to acquire several thousand of ADM-160As. In 2001, this was reduced to 150 at most, for a System Development and Demonstration (SDD) program. In January 2002, the USAF cancelled the program because the drone didn't have enough range and endurance to meet the service's requirements or to perform other missions.
The ADM-160A carries a Signature Augmentation Subsystem (SAS) of various active radar enhancers which cover a range of frequencies. The SAS can therefore simulate any aircraft, from the B-52 Stratofortress to the F-117 Nighthawk.
The missile has folded wings to allow more compact carriage. On launch the wings unfold and a TJ-50 turbojet propels the missile on a predetermined course, which is composed of up to 100 different waypoints. An inertial navigation system with GPS support keeps the MALD on course. Although preprogrammed before the aircraft leaves the ground, the course can be modified by the pilot at any point up to launch.
In 2002, the USAF renewed its interest in an air-launched decoy and started a new industry-wide competition for a variant with greater endurance. In Spring 2003, the contract for a new MALD was awarded to Raytheon.
The Raytheon ADM-160B is similar in configuration to the ADM-160A, but has a trapezoidal fuselage cross section and is larger and heavier. It is powered by a Hamilton Sundstrand TJ-150, a more powerful variant of the TJ-50.
The first ADM-160B was delivered in Spring 2009. In 2010 an "operationally significant quantity" of the drones were delivered to the Air Force. The USAF at one time[when?] planned to procure about 1,500.[citation needed]