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Contracts - Modifications | ECM | Fighters & Attack | Heavy Bombers | Protective Systems - Aircraft | Raytheon | USA

Raytheon Gets $13M for 110 ALE-50 “Little Buddy” Controllers

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ALE-50 “Little Buddy”(click to view full) Raytheon Co. Sensors and Electronic Systems Div. in Goleta, CA is being awarded a $13 million modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-05-C-0031), exercising an option for the full rate production of 110 integrated multi-platform launch controllers for the ALE-50 Advanced Expendable Airborne Decoy system used by US F-16 Falcon/Viper, F/A-18 Hornet family, and B-1B Lancer heavy bomber aircraft. At least one US pilot who came home safe referred to the ALE-50 as “my little buddy” in a letter to Raytheon. So, what do you with a “little buddy,” and how does it work? The entire ALE-50 system consists of a launcher and launch controller attached to one of the aircraft’s hardpoints, containing one or more expendable towed decoys. These trail behind the aircraft when deployed, attracting radar-guided missiles to themselves instead. Each decoy and payout reel is delivered in a sealed canister and has a 10-year shelf life. The Multi-Platform Launch Controller (MPLC) is the standard launch controller for all future installations. The USN F/A-18E/F, USAF B-1B, and Raytheon’s AN/ALQ-184(V)9 ECM pod use the MPLC with platform-specific launchers. This flexibility makes the AN/ALE-50 adaptable to any tactical or combat support aircraft. In […]

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