BAE Systems has been chosen by the US Navy to develop the Dual Band Decoy (DBD), an advanced radio frequency (RF) countermeasure.
The DBD is a state-of-the-art RF self-protection jammer designed to protect fighter aircraft from enemy attacks.
An enhancement of BAE Systems’ proven AN/ALE-55 Fiber-Optic Towed Decoy, the DBD consists of a towed unit connected by fiber-optic cable to electronic warfare equipment on board the aircraft.
This decoy uses the latest jamming technology to disrupt enemy radars and divert missiles away from the aircraft. It can be deployed by the pilot or automatically in response to threats, providing essential protection in highly contested airspace.
“With Dual Band Decoy, we are building on the ALE-55’s years of mission success as a high-powered jamming system,” said Don Davidson, director of the Advanced Compact Electronic Warfare Solutions product line at BAE Systems.
“Dual Band Decoy delivers broad capability that can be installed on a variety of aircraft and is upgradeable to address future threats.”
DBD includes the company’s custom integrated circuits, which enable higher performance and greater capability while reducing size, weight, and power.
The DBD is a key component of BAE Systems’ Intrepid Shield approach, which aims to create a protective sphere around platforms in highly contested battlespaces. This involves using the full electromagnetic spectrum to detect, exploit, and counter advanced threats.
Work on DBD will be performed at BAE facilities in Nashua, N.H. and the system will be initially fielded on the US Navy’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.
