Raytheon Company,
Tucson AZ: Raytheon Miniature Air Launched Decoy (MALD) demonstrated successful powered flight performance when launched from an Air Force F-16 aircraft. The flight test took place at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., under a development contract managed by the 728th Armament Systems Group.
The MALD was launched over the Gulf of Mexico where it entered engine powered flight, executed a series of maneuvers and operated its payload during the mission. MALD's navigation and guidance were activated on the flight, and no communications with the F-16 were required for the test execution. This was the 17th successful flight test mission for MALD.
The 120-inch MALD is a turbojet-powered, swing-wing missile that is launched from an Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon or B-52 Stratofortress and flies a pre-programmed flight path into hostile air space to stimulate enemy air defenses.
MALD is being developed at Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, Ariz. Additional MALD free flight tests are scheduled to run through 2007, and the program will transition into production in fiscal year 2008.
