Raytheon Company, a Tucson technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, security and civil markets around the globe, announced yesterday that the U.S. Air Force has awarded them $80 million to create 200 additional MALD-J (Miniature Air Launched Decoy Jammer) crafts.
The MALD is an air-launched programmable craft that confuses enemy air defenses by duplicating friendly aircraft flight profiles and radar signatures, according to the company’s press release. They weigh under 300 pounds and have a range of about 500 nautical miles. The MALD-J, for which the funding was given, adds radar-jamming capabilities to the MALD version.
Watch the video below for more insight into how the MALD works under an Anti-Access Aerial Denial Scenario:
[youtube width=”560″ height=”315″]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZyL-zEoMfM&app=desktop[/youtube]
The funding is great news for Arizona’s economy. “The MALD contract and other recent contract wins enable us to maintain operations at our Tucson facility,” said a representative for Raytheon Company.
The project will include work on data, mission planning, process verification program and operational flight software, and is expected to be completed by June 30, 2016.
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