Not quite in the same league as an [allegedly-]new Russian ICBM, but interesting nonetheless, esp. if some of the ADM-160A variants already proposed (e.g. AGM-160A…) make it through to service.
MALD successfully completes first powered flight test mission
May 24, 2007
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE – The Miniature Air Launched Decoy Team successfully accomplished the program’s first powered flight test mission Apr. 30.
An F-16 aircraft, piloted by Maj Houchins, 46th Test Wing Operatiosn Group, and accompanied by instructor pilot LtCol Jimmie Mitchell, 40th Flight Test Squadron, carried the MALD. The MALD was launched over the Eglin Test Range at 20,000 feet. It successfully entered powered flight and reached speeds up to 0.9 Mach while executing a series of pre-planned flight maneuvers. MALD’s Global Positioning System navigation and guidance was active during the flight.
This first-ever MALD turbojet engine powered flight was preceded by two successful non-engine MALD glide tests.
MALD is a small, low cost, air launched, expendable decoy. It measures 112 inches long and weighs approximately 285 pounds. MALD employs a robust swing-wing design to sustain flight during a variety of mission profiles while being powered by a compact Hamilton-Sundstrand turbojet engine. MALD’s mission is to stimulate and saturate threat Integrated Air Defense Systems and to ultimately increase friendly aircraft survivability.
This MALD was launched from an non-electrically interfaced aircraft ejector rack, which means MALD required no electrical power or communications from the launching F-16 aircraft – a first of its kind for a GPS/INS navigating weapon. Future missions beginning in June 07 include MALD launches from the B-52, which employs a Mil-Std-1760 electrical interface supplying power and communication prior to launch.
“This team works amazingly well together,” said Ken Watson, 692nd Squadron Director. “They thrive on challenges and know how to get the tough jobs done right. I owe our success to the hard work and dedication of my squadron here , to Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson and to the 46th Test Wing.”
MALD is currently undergoing integration on both the F-16 Fighting Falcon and B-52 Stratofortress aircraft. Future plans will allow for carriage on a wide variety of tactical and strategic aircraft, including the F-15, F-22, B-1 and B-2. The MALD System Design and Development contract was awarded in June 03 to Raytheon Missile Systems, in Tucson, AZ. MALD’s Low Rate Initial Production decision is scheduled for 2008.
By: sferrin - 16th June 2007 at 19:47
So, is there any info on just how configurable MALD is? Can it change its RCS in flight? (i’m guessing no, as that’d require significat flight characteristics degradation).
Why? How would sending back an electronically boosted return be any different than physically increasing the RCS of the structure?
By: pleuris - 16th June 2007 at 18:17
Decoy
Hello guys!
I personally think that any modern radar will ‘see’ if it’s an plane or a missile. But I think that it will work when it role is to be a decoy for other missiles
such as SDB, JSOW or SLAM-ER glidebombs/missiles.
Does anyone Know if has a system that wil increase the RCS so that it will stand out even more?
Regards Pleuris.
By: totoro - 30th May 2007 at 14:04
So, is there any info on just how configurable MALD is? Can it change its RCS in flight? (i’m guessing no, as that’d require significat flight characteristics degradation) What sort of RCS ranges does it cover when looked at certain angles?
Also, how effective would it be (or any small decoy, for that matter) in light of ever increasing effectiveness of SAR modes on radars? I guess fighter based ones don’t have the power to do long range SAR of acceptable quality against such targets, but land based radars should be able to do provide a detailed enough image of the decoy from a hundred or two of kms away so it can be assesed whether it, in fact, is a decoy, or a real plane.
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May 30, 2007 at 12:14 am