Advanced Decoy Systems

- Overview 

Advanced decoy systems use sophisticated technology like AI, DRFM, and multi-band jamming to mimic friendly aircraft or create false targets, tricking enemy radars and missiles into attacking decoys instead of real assets, enhancing survivability for aircraft, ships, and ground forces by saturating defenses and confusing threats. 

These systems range from expendable air-launched decoys (like MALD-J) that simulate flight profiles to towed decoys (like ALE-55) that actively jam radar, and even naval systems (C-Guard) that deploy diverse countermeasures, providing layered defense against advanced guided munitions. 

A. Types of Advanced Decoys: 

1. Air-Launched Decoys (ALDs):

• MALD (Miniature Air-Launched Decoy): Low-cost, expendable drones that mimic friendly aircraft signatures and flight paths.
• MALD-J: The jammer variant of MALD, acting as a "stand-in jammer" to disrupt enemy radar.
• ATALD (Advanced Tactical Air-Launched Decoy): Modular decoys for SEAD missions, simulating various target types with individual RCS and velocity.
• Nano SPEAR: Ultra-small, expendable RF decoys using advanced digital receivers (DRFM) and EW techniques to lure missiles.

2. Towed Decoys:

• ALE-50/ALE-55 (Fiber-Optic Towed Decoy - FOTD): Towed from the aircraft, these systems use high-powered jamming to lure and disrupt threat missiles.
• Dual Band Decoy (BAE Systems): Uses Gallium Nitride technology to jam signals across multiple frequency bands, working with onboard EW systems.

3. Naval Decoy Systems:

• C-Guard MK II: AI-driven launcher that deploys various decoys (chaff, flares, etc.) for layered ship defense, offering flexibility and fast reloading.

4. Infrared (IR) Decoys:

• SPARCS-FLARES: Advanced spectral IR decoys that produce low-luminance smoke, effective against IR-guided threats.

5. Key Capabilities:

• Realistic Simulation: Mimicking real aircraft (MALD) or generating false radar signatures (TURMOIL).
• Electronic Warfare (EW): Active jamming and deception techniques, often integrated with onboard EW systems.
• AI Integration: Used in systems like C-Guard for real-time threat analysis and optimal decoy deployment.
• Expendability: Many systems are low-cost and expendable, designed to be sacrificed to protect valuable assets.

B. How They Work:

• Detection: Aircraft or ships detect incoming radar-guided threats.
• Launch/Deployment: The decoy is launched (air) or deployed (towed/ship).
• Mimicry/Jamming: The decoy either emulates a real target (MALD) or actively sends jamming signals (ALE-55, Dual Band Decoy).
• Lure/Saturate: The false signal overwhelms the threat's radar, causing it to lock onto the decoy, diverting it from the real target.