ACC chief, Gen. Ronald Keys told Washington-based defense reporters Thursday that there are other platforms, besides a B-52 standoff jammer, and other capabilities that could share in the jamming mission. He said he is considering using systems such as the Miniature Air-Launched Decoy-Jammer (MALD-J) and the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile to kill threats. Other platforms, Keys explained, could include a C-130 variant of current and new fighters with advanced radar systems to “see and block surface to air missiles.”
A top Pentagon tech official called on industry this week to help the military develop “lighter, more efficient” directed energy weapons designed to go on aircraft and conduct special operations missions or down drones—areas where the Air Force’s directed energy efforts have been quiet as of late.