Raytheon Awarded $12.2 M MALD-J Study Contract

(Tucson, Ariz., January 15, 2009) -- The U.S. Air Force awarded Raytheon Company a $12.2 million contract to study the feasibility of increasing power and adding a data link capability for the Miniature Air Launched Decoy-Jammer(MALD-J(tm)).

"This effort will allow us to evaluate the technical maturity of a radio frequency data link and to study further increases in jammer power levels," said Ken Watson, the U.S. Air Force's MALD program manager. "This will enhance MALD-J's ability to function as a key component in a system of electronic warfare systems."


MALD-J is a state-of-the-art, low-cost flight vehicle that is modular, air-launched and programmable. It weighs less than 300 pounds and has a range of approximately 500 nautical miles (about 575 statute miles).

The contract requires Raytheon to integrate a data link and more powerful jammer amplifiers into the baseline MALD/MALD-J vehicle. Raytheon will also determine the technical feasibility and performance capability of MALD-J Block II prior to building and flight testing the new vehicle.

"The modular design lends itself to these improvements," said Scott Muse, Raytheon's MALD program director. "This system is so versatile there is almost no limit to what kind of capabilities can be integrated on this platform."

Source : Raytheon