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 first live-fly dogfights pitting artificial intelligence against human pilots took place last fall, and more tests are planned as the Air Force prepares to launch the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, DARPA and Air Force test officials reported.