The Air Force has awarded a $96.1 million contract to Raytheon to produce 250 Miniature Air- Launched Decoy (MALD) missiles.
Officials said the MALD system is an air-launched missile with both decoy and jamming capabilities, possessing the ability to stimulate and neutralize enemy air defense systems electronically.
The firm produces the MALD-J jamming variant and is also developing a system for the Navy, with officials referencing the MALD-J decoy is the jammer variant of the basic decoy and first ever stand-in jammer to enter production.
“MALD gives fighter pilots control of the skies, so they can stay out of harm’s way,” Mike Jarrett, Raytheon Air Warfare Systems vice president, said. “We’re at the leading edge of electronic warfare, to defeat the most advanced air defense systems.”
The awarding of the contract comes on the cusp of Raytheon marking its 2,000th MALD system delivery and 10th year of on-time customer deliveries.
Based in Waltham, Massachusetts, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration, C5ITM products and services, sensing, effects, and mission support for customers in more than 80 countries.
The firm, which totaled $25 billion in 2017 sales while possessing a workforce of 64,000 employees, is a technology and innovation principal specializing in defense, civil government and cybersecurity solutions.