Raytheon’s ALE-50 “Little Buddy” Decoys
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The entire ALE-50 system consists of a launcher and launch controller attached to one of the aircraft’s weapon pylons, 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.
In both flight tests and actual combat, the ALE-50 has successfully countered numerous live firings of both surface-to-air and air-to-air missiles. Deagel.com estimates the ALE-50 expendable decoys’ estimated value at $22,000 each – which is certainly a lot cheaper than a B-1 bomber. At least one US pilot who came home safe referred to the ALE-50 as “my little buddy” in a letter to Raytheon…
Contracts & Key Events, 2006 – Present
Contracts for the ALE-50 have been ongoing since at least 1995, and production began in December 1996. Unless otherwise noted, work on the ALE-50 towed decoy system is being done at Raytheon’s Space and Airborne Systems (SAS) business by its Electronic Warfare Systems organization located in Goleta, CA. The ALE-50 is used by older F/A-18E/F Block I Super Hornets, and by USAF F-16s and B-1B Lancer heavy bombers.
Note that the Integrated Multi-Platform Launch Controller (IMPLC) is the standard launch controller for all future installations. It’s a component of the AN/ALE-50(V) countermeasures decoy dispensing set, and the IDECM integrated defensive electronics countermeasure system. The US Navy’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighter, the USAF’s B-1B Lancer heavy bombers, and Raytheon’s AN/ALQ-184(V)9 ECM pod that equips a number of different aircraft each use their MPLC with platform-specific launchers. This flexibility makes the AN/ALE-50 adaptable to any tactical or combat support aircraft.
April 24/20: Repair Raytheon won a $10.1 million delivery order for the repair of the ALE-50 towed decoy system used in support of the F/A-18 Super Hornet warfare air craft. The AN/ALE-50 towed decoy system was developed by Raytheon to protect multiple US military aircraft from radar-guided-missiles. The ALE-50 consists of a launch controller, launcher and towed decoy. It can be used on a variety of platforms without modification. When deployed, the ALE-50’s expendable aerial decoy is towed behind the aircraft. The decoy protects the host aircraft providing a more attractive target and steering the radar-guided missile away from the aircraft and right to the decoy. ALE-50 has countered both surface-to-air and air-to-air missiles. Work will take place in Forest, Mississippi. Expected completion will be by October 2022.
June 17/19: Demonstration Raytheon won a $33 million firm-fixed-price contract to demonstrate a new dual-band towed decoy to help US Navy Super Hornet jet fighter-bomber pilots avoid modern sophisticated enemy radar-guided anti-aircraft missiles. The deal supports the Dual Band Decoy Program, which aims to meet an urgent Navy neccessity to protect crews of area-penetrating attack jets like the F/A-18E/F Super Hornets from enemy radar-guided missiles that operate on two separate frequencies, such as X-band and S-band. Raytheon will demonstrate expanded capabilities of the Integrated Defensive Electronic Countermeasures AN/ALE-55 Fiber Optic Towed Decoy and AN/ALE-50 Advanced Airborne Expendable Decoy. The company will perform work in Goleta, California and scheduled completion date is in September 2021.
Sept 23/14: Raytheon Electronic Warfare Systems in Goleta, CA receives a $9.4 million firm-fixed-price delivery order for 226 ALE-50 Bravo T3F launchers for U.S. Navy F/A-18 E/F aircraft. All funds are committed immediately, using FY 2013 US Navy aircraft budgets.
Work will be performed in Forest, MS (70%), and Goleta, CA (30%), and is expected to be complete in October 2017. US Navy Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, MD manages the contract (N00019-10-G-0006).
April 25/13: IMPLC. Raytheon in Goleta, CA receives a $9.1 million firm-fixed-price contract modification, exercising an option for 26 integrated multi-platform launch controllers (IMPLCs) “for installation on F/A-18 aircraft.”
Work will be performed in Forest, MS (66%); Goleta, CA (25%); and Nashua, NH (9%), and is expected to be complete in November 2015. All funds are committed immediately, using FY 2013 USN Aircraft Procurement funds (N00019-13-C-0006).
April 9/13: Raytheon in Goleta, CA receives a $35.2 million firm-fixed delivery order for AN/ALE-50 towed decoys. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition, using FY 2011 funds within a multi-year contract (q.v. March 5/04 entry).
Work will be performed at Forest, MS and is expected to be complete by March 31/15. The AFLCMC/WNKCB at Robins AFB, GA manages the contract (FA8523-04-D-0001, 0087).
Oct 3/12: IMPLC. A $15.8 million firm-fixed price contract for 48 integrated multi-platform launch controllers (IMPLCs).
Work will be performed in Forest, MS (66%), Goleta, CA (25%), and Nashua, NH (9%), and is expected to be complete in January 2014. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to FAR 6.302-1, and $7.9 million will expire at the end of the current fiscal year (N00019-13-C-0006).
March 6/12: Boeing in St. Louis, MO receives an $8 million firm-fixed-price, fixed-price-incentive-fee contract modification for 57 SUU-78 A/A pylons, and 40 ALE-50 towed decoy well covers.
Work will be performed in St. Louis, MO, and is expected to be complete in December 2014. US Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, MD manages the contract (N00019-09-C-0019).
Sept 15/11: ECM. Boeing in St. Louis, MO receives a $7.7 million firm-fixed-price contract modification for F/A-18 E/F and EA-18G aircraft armament equipment, to include a number of systems. 174 station control units comprise the first set of capabilities. Self-protection items include 6 ALE-50 dispensers for those towed active missile decoys; 6 ALE-50 chassis towed decoys; and 6 ALE-50 protector towed decoys. They’re also ordering 4 sets of mounting bases and retainers for the plane’s ALR-67 radar warning receivers.
F/A-18E/F Super Hornets with tanks can act as low-capacity hose-and-drogue aerial tankers, and this order covers 22 aerial refueling store (ARS) suspension lugs; 12 centerline feed-through plates; 11 ARS air probes; and 11 ARS fuel probes.
Work will be performed in St. Louis, MO, and is expected to be complete in December 2013. US Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, MD (N00019-09-C-0019).
Dec 15/09: Boeing subsidiary McDonnell Douglas Corp. received a $6.1 million firm-fixed-price delivery order against a previously issued basic ordering agreement for 35 SUU-78 centerline pylons, and 14 ALE-50 well covers, in support of FY 2010 aircraft armament equipment production for the F/A-18 and EA-18G aircraft.
Work will be performed in El Segundo, CA (86%); St. Louis, MO (11%); and Irvine, CA (3%). Work is expected to be complete in April 2012. The Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, MD manages the contract (N00019-05-G-0026).
May 14/09: Lot 13. Raytheon announces a $19.8 million contract modification from the U.S. Air Force Warner Robins Air Logistics Center. ALE-50 Lot 13 production will include 807 decoys for the Air Force, to be delivered through April 2011. Completion of Lot 13 production will bring the total number of decoys produced by Raytheon to 26,489.
Oct 16/08: Lot 12. Raytheon announces a $24.3 million contract from the USAF’s Warner Robins Air Logistics Center to provide the 12th production lot of 1,048 ALE-50 decoys: 799 for the USAF, and 249 for the Navy. They will be delivered through October 2010.
Production of ALE-50 equipment began in December 1996. Raytheon has now achieved 12 years of on-time deliveries, and Lot 12 deliveries will bring Raytheon’s total production to 25,682. Raytheon release.
Dec 3/07: IMPLC. A $7.9 million firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the Lot P9 Full-Rate Production of 30 Integrated Multi-Platform Launch Controllers (IMPLC) for the AN/ALE-50 (V) and associated technical support for the Government of Australia and the United States Navy, for F/A-18E/F aircraft.
Work will be performed in Goleta, CA (94.4%) and Nashua, NH (5.6%) and is expected to be complete in December 2011. This contract was not competitively procured by the Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, MD (N00019-08-C-0006).
May 7/07: Lot 11. Raytheon in Goleta, CA receives a $23.2 million contract for 947 ALE-50 advanced airborne electronics decoy sets. That’s the Pentagon’s figure, anyway. On June 7/07, Raytheon announces a $29 million Lot 11 contract for 1,269 systems: 934 for the USAF, and 335 for the Navy. It’s very likely that they’re the same contract.
All funds are committed immediately by the 542th CBSG/PKS at Robins Air Force Base, GA. Raytheon recently produced its 23,000th ALE-50 decoy and achieved 11 years of on-time deliveries. Completion of the Lot 11 program will bring the total number of decoys produced by Raytheon to 24,634 (FA8523-04-D-0001). Raytheon release.
Aug 30/06: Lot 10. Raytheon Company announces a $20.7 million contract award for the 542nd Combat Sustainment Group, Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, GA for ALE-50 decoys. The Lot 10 contract calls for 862 decoys for the US Air Force ordered for the U.S. Air Force, and will be delivered through September 2008.
Raytheon also announced that it has produced its 20,000th ALE-50 decoy and achieved 10 years of on-time deliveries for the USAF and U.S. Navy as part of an original contract that began in December 1996. Completion of the Lot 10 program will bring the total number of decoys produced by Raytheon to 23,365. See Raytheon release.
March 20/06: Lot 9. Raytheon’s Sensors and Electronic Systems Division in Goleta, CA is being awarded a $13 million modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract, exercising an option for the full rate production of 110 integrated multi-platform launch controllers for the ALE-50 Advanced Expendable Airborne Decoy system.
Work on this contract will be performed in Goleta, CA (90%), and Nashua, NH (10%), and is expected to be complete in June 2008. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, MD issued the contract. According to Raytheon, the Lot 9 production contract in April 2005 has increased the total number of decoys ordered to almost 22,500, with deliveries scheduled through 2007 (N00019-05-C-0031).
March 5/04: Raytheon in Goleta, CA receives a $423.9 million indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract modification. It’s for the same items and under the same terms as the Feb 27/04 contract, but has been revised to extend for 10.5 years, to August 2014 (FA8523-04-D-0001, P00001).
Feb 27/04: Raytheon Co. in Goleta, CA receives a 5.5-year, $211.9 million indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract to provide for spares and repairs determined to be sole-source to Raytheon Co., and within the federal stock classes included in the class justification and approval. These items are applicable to multiple systems (AN/ALE-50, AN/ALQ-184 and AN/ALQ-161), and the USAF can issue delivery orders totaling up to the maximum amount. At this time, $2.2 million of the funds have been committed.
Solicitation began April 2002, negotiations were completed January 2004, and the contract will run until August 2009. The Headquarters Robins Air Logistics Center at Robins AFB, GA manages the contract (FA8523-04-D-0001).
ALE-50 etc. base contract
Additional Readings
- DID – ALE-55 Towed Fighter Decoys for US Navy, Australia. BAE’s ALE-55 is a competitive product that serves on F/A-18E/F Super Hornet aircraft.
