Selex ES proves BriteCloud decoy technology

Selex ES has successfully completed testing of its BriteCloud Expendable Active Decoy (EAD) technology, clearing the way for the company to begin production of the decoys.

The tests, conducted during February, proved the system’s capability under live conditions.

BriteCloud is a self-contained Digital RF Memory (DRFM) jammer for fast jet aircraft, providing an off-board capability to decoy RF-guided missiles and fire control radars. 

The testing saw fully functional decoys launched from a fighter aircraft that was being tracked by a ground-based fire-control radar. All of the decoys performed as planned, on each occasion detecting the threat radar and jamming it with the decoy’s embedded DRFM jammer. The fire control radar's lock on the fighter aircraft was immediately broken and it subsequently tracked the decoy until it impacted the ground. 

Pete Forrest, VP marketing and sales for Electronic Warfare, Selex ES, said: ‘We had already done a huge amount of testing, including extensive computer modelling and ground-based sled trials, so we were confident in the performance of BriteCloud.

‘That said, it’s great to have put the decoy in a real life scenario and seen it perform exactly as intended, which will reassure some potential customers who maybe didn’t quite believe that this technology is as far ahead of our competition as we’ve just proven.’

Britecloud was launched by Selex ES in November 2013 in conjunction with its launch partner Saab who are offering the decoy as an EW enhancement option with its entire range of Gripen jets. 

BriteCloud is the same size and shape as a flare and dispensed from a standard 55mm flare cartridge, making it ideally suited for a range of fighter jets.