MALD Achieves Major Flight Test Success With Advanced Composite Casing Produced By Cobham
The U.S. Air Force successfully completed a flight test March 21st of a MALD-J (Miniature Air-Launched Decoy) with a composite external casing produced by Cobham integrated into the airframe. This test successfully met all EMD-4 flight test objectives conducted at Eglin Air Force Base, FL and qualifies the MALD-J Program to continue into Operational Test. Cobham developed the innovative, low cost manufacturing process for MALD at its facility in Suffolk, VA.
MALD is a state-of-the-art, low-cost flight vehicle that is modular, air-launched and programmable. It weighs less than 300 pounds and has a range of approximately 500 nautical miles (about 575 statute miles). Currently integrated on the B-52 bomber and F-16 fighter aircraft, MALD can be certified on any aircraft with a 14-inch suspension carriage. Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, AZ is the prime for the MALD program. Cobham is responsible for the composite casing under contract to Raytheon.
“This is an important program, and this successful testing milestone represents a significant step in achieving a fully qualified MALD airframe assembly in support of Raytheon and their customer’s needs,” said Fred Cahill, vice president of Cobham Antenna Systems.”
About Cobham
Cobham specializes in meeting the insatiable demand for data, connectivity and bandwidth in defense, security and commercial environments. Offering a technically diverse and innovative range of technologies and services, the Group protects lives and livelihoods, responding to customer needs with agility that differentiates it. The most important thing we build is trust. Employing more than 10,000 people on five continents, the Group has customers and partners in over 100 countries.
About Cobham Antenna Systems
For more than 60 years, Cobham Antenna Systems has been a world leader in the design and manufacture of communication systems and antennas. Cobham’s innovative communication, navigation, jamming, electronic warfare, telemetry and radar antennas serve all major commercial aviation manufacturers and operators, major defense contractors, emergency response organizations and law enforcement agencies.
Cobham’s advanced antenna technology for satellite communications, avionics, radar and surveillance applications connect military and commercial aircraft, naval vessels, vehicles and mobile teams with the world, through high-speed data, voice and video, including a range of products to satisfy every Inmarsat Aeronautical and Marine Satcom application.
Cobham Antenna Systems also has the industry’s widest range of standard, commercial off the shelf (COTS) composite masts, antenna pointing devices, and vehicle mounting systems. Cobham produces high performance composite structures and products for the aerospace industry, including radomes and aircraft components, high temperature aircraft engine products, rotorcraft blade components and unmanned aerial vehicle airframes and sub-components.
Cobham Antenna Systems is a leading supplier of flat plate array antennas, standard and custom passive RF components and assemblies, including specialized microwave and electro-mechanical rotating devices. These include RF rotary joints, gear-driven pedestals and RF rotating subsystems used in military and air traffic control radars, and telecommunications systems.
SOURCE: Cobham