The US Air Force is scheduled to pick a winning design for its Miniature Air Launched Decoy (MALD) programme in May, following the submission of proposals by at least four different competitors.
Boeing has proposed a clean sheet design, 2.7m (8.9ft) long and 0.18m in diameter, with extendible wings and capable of flying for up to 45min at Mach 0.9.
Northrop Grumman has proposed the ADM-160, drawing on its earlier MALD advanced technology demonstrator.
Accurate Automation says it has a design, the powerplant and avionics of which are being tested on its low-speed X-43A demonstrator for NASA.
Raytheon has confirmed it also submitted a proposal, while Lockheed Martin says it decided not to submit a bid.
MALD is intended to emulate the radar signature of both large Boeing B-52 bombers and the small Lockheed Martin F-16. A later jammer version is planned.
Source: Flight International
