The Air Force awarded Raytheon a $76 million option for the production of the Miniature Air Launched Decoy/Jammer (MALD-J) lot 10. MALD-J is the unmanned version of “a low-cost, air-launched programmable craft that accurately duplicates the combat flight profiles and signatures of U.S. and allied aircraft,” according to the company. The expendable vehicles are designed to distract enemy radar from live US aircraft. This award comes as an alteration to the $118 million contract for lot 9 production given to Raytheon in June. The work will be done in Tuscon, Ariz., and is expected to be completed by June 30, 2020. (See also: Leading EW Out of the Wilderness.)
While the Sentinel ICBM program writ large is undergoing a major restructure due to cost and schedule overages, prime contractor Northrop Grumman is touting progress on milestones with the missile itself.
