Rafael has partially unveiled its X-Guard fibre-optic towed decoy system designed to counter air-to-air and surface-to-air missiles. The company is not expected to fully unveil the project until June's Paris air show.
Shaul Horev, Rafael director of electronic warfare (EW) marketing, says the system can protect aircraft where integral EW systems fail. He says current aircraft EW systems do not provide protection from missiles equipped with monopulse radar seekers.
The X-Guard towed decoy can be carried on normal aircraft hardpoints, or in a housing. Each aircraft carries two decoys, says the company. The decoys can be released when the aircraft approaches a saturated area or when a threat is detected. In the latter case, the most suitable countermeasure is transmitted to the X-Guard by the aircraft's electronic countermeasures system. The fibre-optic connection to the aircraft allows accurate jamming, says Rafael.
X-Guard can be carried by military transport aircraft and, unlike on a fighter, can be reeled in before landing, the company says. The system is in flight test.
Source: Flight International
