Raytheon announced Tuesday that it has tested and validated an upgraded navigation system for its Miniature Air Launched Decoy-Jammer. The system performed as expected in six test flights on B-52 and F-16 aircraft at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., according to a company release. The system upgrade is called GPS Aided Inertial Navigation System (GAINS II), and it improves “navigation performance in a jamming environment,” according to Raytheon. The company is already producing and delivering MALD-Js with GAINS II upgrades. In November 2016, Raytheon was awarded an $76 million option for lot 10 production of the MALD-J program.
The Air Force is looking to adapt the laser-guided rocket pods it currently mounts on fighter aircraft for targeting swarms of small drones from the ground.
