Selex ES BriteCloud expendable active decoy successfully deployed from Saab Gripen

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World Defense & Security Industry News - Selex ES & Saab
 
 
Selex ES BriteCloud expendable active decoy successfully deployed from Saab Gripen
 
Selex ES and defence and security company Saab have recently demonstrated the successful deployment of the BriteCloud expendable active decoy (EAD) from a Gripen fighter. Three flights and three releases of the BriteCloud were conducted in Sweden. The tests successfully demonstrated the safe and effective release of the BriteCloud EAD from a standard Gripen countermeasures dispenser.
     
Selex ES and defence and security company Saab have recently demonstrated the successful deployment of the BriteCloud expendable active decoy (EAD) from a Gripen fighter. Three flights and three releases of the BriteCloud were conducted in Sweden. The tests successfully demonstrated the safe and effective release of the BriteCloud EAD from a standard Gripen countermeasures dispenser.
Selex ES BriteCloud expendable active decoy (EAD)
(Credit: Selex ES)
     
This testing followed on from BriteCloud’s launch in November 2013 when it was announced that Saab would be the first to offer BriteCloud as an electronic warfare enhancement option on all Gripen aircraft.

BriteCloud has been developed and produced at Selex ES’s Luton site in UK.

These trials successfully validated the in-flight mechanical compatibility of the BriteCloud EAD with the Gripen’s countermeasures system. The tests showed good clearance margins and allow further system integration work to go forward. The Gripen electronic warfare system is continuously updated to meet emerging threats and BriteCloud integration is an important step in this process,” says Hans Einerth, Wing Commander Flying at Saab.

BriteCloud is a self-contained digital radio frequency memory (DRFM) jammer that is designed to protect fighter jets from complex threats such as RF-guided missiles and fire-control radars. After manual or automatic ejection from a standard chaff and flare dispenser, BriteCloud detects RF emissions and cross-references them against its pre-programmed threat library. Upon finding a match, the decoy applies advanced algorithms and emits a deception signal to defeat the threat radar and incoming missile so that the aircraft is able to carry on safely and concentrate on its mission.

The trial with Gripen used a 55-mm diameter version of BriteCloud which is compatible with the standard chaff and flare dispenser size operated by Gripen and others. Saab and Selex ES hope to organise further flight trials that will prove the performance of the BriteCloud 55-mm variant against representative threats.