DeZwarteRidder schreef op 1 maart 2024 15:36:
The Miniature Air-Launched Decoy (MALD) is a sophisticated air-launched, expendable decoy missile designed to protect aircraft from enemy air defences. Let’s Delve into the Best of the ADM-160 MALD System: compact and lightweight, it can be carried in multiples by fighter jets. Once launched, the MALD operates autonomously, mimicking the radar signature and flight characteristics of various aircraft types, diverting enemy attention away from the actual aircraft. Equipped with advanced electronic warfare systems, it can replicate electronic emissions, enhancing its effectiveness.
The MALD can follow pre-programmed flight paths or react to real-time threats independently. It uses gradient-index optics to create a radar cross-section that simulates allies’ aircraft, stimulating, confusing, and degrading the capability of missile defence systems. Its versatility allows it to simulate different aircraft types, from fighters to reconnaissance platforms, adapting to various mission scenarios.
By diverting enemy resources towards the decoy, the MALD increases the survivability of manned aircraft and improves mission success. Overall, the ADM-160 MALD System serves as a vital tool for enhancing aircraft survivability and operational effectiveness in hostile environments, specifically in SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses) operations.
Development of the ADM-160 MALD
The inception of the Miniature Air-Launched Decoy (MALD) program dates back to 1995, initiated by DARPA to create a small, cost-effective decoy missile to counter Enemy Air defence suppression. The program garnered interest from the US Air Force, which intended to procure several thousand system units. In 1996, Teledyne Ryan, an Aeronautical Company, secured a development contract for the ADM-160A. Subsequently, the inaugural test flight occurred in 1999, marking a significant milestone in the program’s progress. By 2001, the evaluation phase had concluded, paving the way for further advancements.