The Air Force awarded Raytheon a contract for 250 Miniature Air Launched Decoy Jammers under a $91.5 million contract option announced on March 18. The contract option covers MALD-J production Block 8, which will be delivered through June 2017, according to the Defense Department contract announcement on Wednesday. The Air Force purchased 200 MALD-J under the Block 7 base production contract awarded last summer, which are scheduled for delivery through June 2016, according to DOD’s previous announcement. MALD-J is currently integrated to provide stand-off decoy and jamming to the B-52 and F-16.
Three of four congressional committees with influence over defense policy have voted to change the official name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War—but final approval of the Pentagon rebrand is months away and not yet assured.