An upgraded navigation system for the Miniature Air Launched Decoy-Jammer (MALD-J) was recently validated in six flight tests conducted by the Air Force and Raytheon at White Sands Missile Range, N.M. The system upgrade, designated GAINS II (GPS Aided Inertial Navigation System), includes an enhanced multi-element antenna assembly to improve navigation in a GPS jamming environment.

Developed by Raytheon, MALD® is a low cost, expendable air-launched jammer that confuses enemy air defenses by duplicating friendly aircraft flight profiles and radar signatures. MALD-J maintains the functionality of MALD and adds the capability to jam radars. MALD-J has a range of some 500 nautical miles and weighs under 300 lbs.

Raytheon began shipping MALD-J in the fall of 2012 and is now delivering systems with GAINS II. Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems in El Segundo, Calif., supported the design of GAINS II, while Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, Ariz., provided systems engineering, integration and testing.

MALD-J. Source: Raytheon.