Raytheon's Missile Systems Division, based in Tucson, Arizona, has been awarded a $91,562,375 contract for Lot 8 of the Miniature Air Launched Decoy Jammer (MALD-J) missile. Raytheon will provide 250 MALD-J missiles to the US Air Force. Work will be performed at Tucson, Arizona, and is expected to be complete by June 30, 2017.

The Miniature Air Launched Decoy (MALD®) is a low-cost, air-launched programmable craft that accurately duplicates the combat flight profiles and signatures of aircraft.

MALD® is a flexible and modular system that has the potential to keep aviators and aircraft out of harm’s way. MALD is an expendable air-launched flight vehicle that looks like a U.S. or allied aircraft to enemy integrated air defense systems (IADS).

MALD weighs less than 300 pounds and has a range of approximately 500 nautical miles (575 statute miles). After it is launched from its host aircraft, MALD flies a preprogrammed mission.

In addition to protecting valuable aircraft, MALD® offers counter air operations to neutralize air defense systems that pose a threat to pilots.

The MALD-J is the jammer variant of the basic decoy, and the first ever stand-in jammer to enter production. The unmanned MALD-J navigates and operates much closer than conventional EW to the victim radar when jamming the electronics, allowing aviators and aircraft to stay out of harm’s way. Employed from the F-16 C/D Fighting Falcon and B-52 bomber, the unmanned MALD-J is capable of navigating and operating closer to hostile radars compared to the conventional electronic warfare (EW) systems, thus keeping aviators and aircraft away from enemy's path.

Designed to work with and use other EW platforms, the device can function either as a stand-alone system or in pairs, and is also able to loiter in the target area for an extended period of time, ensuring mission completion.

MALD-J can operate alone or in pairs, but is designed to work with and leverage other electronic warfare platforms.