Northrop Grumman's Ryan Aeronautical Center is proposing its ADM-160A Miniature Air-Launched Decoy (MALD) as a low-cost, high-performance modular air vehicle for use as an expendable target. Other missions would include cruise missile defence, electronic jamming and lethal suppression of enemy air defences.
MALD is powered by a 50lb-thrust (0.22kN) Hamilton Sundstrand TJ50 turbojet and is equipped with a signature augmentation system to spoof enemy radar.
The company says the MALD advanced concept technology demonstration programme will move to a 12-month engineering and manufacturing development phase after flight tests prove that engine oil supply and global positioning system signal interference problems have been fixed.
Meanwhile, the US Air Force has earmarked $20 million between 2002-04 to buy up to 150 MALDs - it could ultimately buy 1,500. The UK Royal Air Force is studying MALD, and US sources say the US Navy, which operates the Israel Military Industries Improved Tactical Air Launched Decoy, may also procure MALD.
A MALD derivative, called the miniature air-launched interceptor (MALI), can dash at supersonic speed to attack cruise missiles.
MALI is being developed by the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency in a 30-month $14 million technology demonstration. The US Army has a separate Miniature Ground-Launched Interceptor programme.
At the same time, a MALD variant with a jammer payload is part of the Joint Service Electronic Attack analysis of alternatives study, which is looking at Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowler electronic warfare aircraft replacement from around 2015.
Source: Flight International