The U.S. Navy has entered into a contract with Leonardo UK for the supply of active expendable decoys (AED), a vital component aimed at bolstering the survivability of its fighter jet fleet against sophisticated radar-guided threats. While the specifics of the contract have not been publicly disclosed, the Navy has indicated a need for a substantial annual supply of between 3,000 and 6,000 decoys.
This sole-source contract is set for a base year with the possibility of an additional option year and encompasses not just the decoys themselves but also initial spare impulse cartridges and necessary support equipment. The Navy justified the decision to opt for a sole-source supplier—specifically Leonardo UK—by highlighting the potential delays associated with sourcing an alternative vendor. Choosing another party could postpone the acquisition of these critical systems by as much as eight years.
The Naval Air Systems Command has noted that approximately 14 years of research and development have gone into the AED, primarily through collaborative efforts between Leonardo UK and the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence. This extensive R&D process has included various forms of testing, such as laboratory evaluations, software validation, and effectiveness assessments to ensure the decoy’s compatibility with the F-35 fighter jet.
An alternative supplier would face a minimum of four years to mature their product adequately, followed by three years for qualification and one year for preparing a manufacturing setup for low-rate production, compounding the delays in getting an effective solution into service.
In addition to Leonardo UK, the Navy considered responses from other firms, including Elbit America and Raytheon, but submissions from BHPE and Kastel Enterprises did not meet the necessary criteria.
The active expendable decoy, designated AN/ALQ-260(V) by the military, features a design similar to Leonardo’s BriteCloud 218. The AED measures 2 inches by 1 inch by 8 inches and is engineered to be used with standard chaff and flare dispensers, such as the widely implemented AN/ALE-47 system on many platforms.
The BriteCloud 218 is primarily intended for use with the F-35, enhancing the aircraft’s existing capabilities for radio-frequency countermeasures. The F-35 already utilizes the BAE Systems AN/ASQ-239 onboard self-protection suite, which integrates a variety of protective measures, including ALE-70 fiber-optic towed decoys.
The BriteCloud 218 serves as a self-contained, battery-powered countermeasure designed to thwart radio-frequency-guided missiles and fire-control radars. Being launched from standard dispensers allows it to address both surface-to-air and air-to-air threats. Its design circumvents the vulnerabilities associated with onboard jammers, where the jamming signal can lead missiles back to the aircraft.
Through advanced techniques, such as Doppler and range obscuration, the decoy aims to outsmart modern missile seekers, effectively creating a false target that misleads detection technologies. According to Leonardo, this innovative approach allows a wider array of threat systems to be rendered ineffective, enhancing the protective measures available to the Navy’s fighter jet fleet.
