LEONARDO LAUNCHES NEW 218 MODEL BRITECLOUD
ANTI MISSILE COUNTERMEASURE FOLLOWING LIVE FIRE EXERCISE WITH F-16
London 06/06/2017 15:40
- BriteCloud
218 fits square-format flare dispensers, extending the accessible market
for the decoy to include the widely-operated F-15 and F-16 aircraft
- Recent
live trials saw a Royal Danish Air Force F-16 launch the BriteCloud 218,
collecting essential data for Leonardo’s final development of the new
decoy format
- Leonardo’s
existing BriteCloud 55mm format has already proven effective on live
trials with RAF Tornado jets and is moving towards operational use
Leonardo has launched
the new version of its BriteCloud decoy for fast jets,
called BriteCloud 218, at the Electronic Warfare Europe event
in London following trials with Danish F-16 fighter aircraft. The new 218
model, which adapts BriteCloud technology to fit into 2”x1”x8”
dimensions, is designed to be compatible with aircraft that use this standard
size of flare cartridge, such as the widely-operated F-16 and F-15. BriteCloud
218, which is now available alongside Leonardo’s
BriteCloud 55mm variant, was unveiled at the Electronic Warfare
Europe exhibition in London on the 6th June.
BriteCloud is a compact
radio-frequency device that is launched by a fast-jet pilot when facing attack
from radar-guided missiles. Once launched, it creates powerful electronic
emissions that create a ‘false target’ and draw enemy missiles away from the
real aircraft. The decoy is dramatically more effective than traditional chaff
countermeasures (radar-reflecting foil) and its on-board computer uses the
latest electronic warfare frequency-spoofing techniques to protect pilots from
even the most sophisticated modern missiles. Leonardo is the only
company in the world to have successfully tested such a system on live trials.
The launch of BriteCloud 218 follows
a trial of the system with the Royal Danish Air Force (RDAF) on one of their
F-16 aircraft. The BriteCloud 218 fitted directly into the
F-16’s standard flare dispenser with no integration work required. During the
mission, the RDAF F-16 dispensed BriteCloud 218 in response to
being locked-onto by a real radar-guided surface to air missile targeting
system. The trial allowed Leonardo to collect essential
performance data needed to complete the adaptation of the proven BriteCloud hardware
and software into the new, smaller, 218 format.
Leonardo has
already successfully tested the BriteCloud 55-model decoy (which
is compatible with round 55mm flare dispensers) with the UK’s Royal Air Force
where trials with RAF Tornado aircraft proved the
effectiveness of the product. The RAF has subsequently ordered further BriteCloud rounds
to develop concepts of operations (CONOPS) for the product, which is the last
stage of development prior to purchasing a system for operational use. BriteCloud 55
is also offered by defence and security company Saab as an electronic warfare
option on all models of their Gripen fighter aircraft.
Source: leonardocompany.com
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