Anti-Missile decoy begins tests on F-18 Super Hornet
The U.S. Navy has completed developmental testing of a BAE Systems fiber-optic towed decoy, and has begun operational tests on the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet. The decoy is a key part of a system that will better protect military aircraft against enemy missiles.
The AN/ALE-55 towed decoy is part of the Integrated Defensive Electronic Countermeasures (IDECM) radio frequency countermeasures system. The Navy system provides a highly effective electronic warfare defense against missiles guided by radio frequency. Operational deployment on U.S. Navy F-18s is scheduled for December 2009.
The AN/ALE-55 consists of an on-board electronic frequency converter (EFC) and the fiber-optic towed decoy. The EFC converts radio frequencies to light for transfer through a fiber-optic line to the decoy. IDECM links the aircraft’s expendable countermeasures, radar warning system, mission computer, and radio-frequency countermeasures system into a unified defensive suite.
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