A very sophisticated
American system has been deployed by Ukrainian forces against Russian assets in Ukraine.
On May 12, in Luhansk, Eastern Ukraine, the remains of the AGM-160B MALD were discovered
in close proximity to a location that had been targeted by a Ukrainian missile strike.
The wreckage caught the attention of social media users as images of the debris circulated rapidly,
sparking widespread conversations. Speculation arose suggesting that the Armed Forces of
Ukraine (AFU) might have employed these decoys strategically to overwhelm Russian air defenses.
Interestingly, on May 12, the same day when photographic proof of the MALD surfaced online,
Russian authorities made an announcement that the major city in the eastern Luhansk region,
located approximately 100 kilometers (60 miles) behind the frontlines,
had been targeted by missiles launched by Ukrainian forces.
In this video, Defense Updates analyzes how American MALD is
being utilized by Ukraine ? Let's get into the details.
Miniature Air-Launched Decoy, or MALD is low cost and expendable
system that can be deployed against sophisticated air defense systems.
The MALD is a programmable, autonomous flight vehicle with a unique ability to mimic US or
allied aircraft, thereby confounding enemy Integrated Air Defense Systems (IADS).
Despite lacking an explosive warhead or attack
capability, its importance in an offensive role is significant.
It is essentially a small cruise missile/glide bomb geared to jam radars, drop chaff,
and emit missile fire control signals to look like a fighter or bomber aircraft.
The value of the MALD lies in its ability to confuse air defense systems.
MALD can make air defense exhaust their ammunition such as interceptor missiles.
This will make follow-on attacking platforms hit
their targets without much resistance from air defense.
Actually, the air defense will itself be vulnerable.
As per Raytheon, operators send a formation of the MALD decoys into
hostile airspace. The flexible, modular systems fly a preprogrammed mission that
protects allied aircraft while confusing enemy-integrated air defense systems.
Each craft weighs less than 136 kg or 300 pounds and has a range of around 925 km or 575 miles.
Formulated in the late 1990s, the idea behind the MALD was influenced by insights gained from
the Gulf War, particularly the necessity to penetrate resilient radar-based anti-aircraft
defenses. The initial iteration, known as the ADM-160A, encountered obstacles related
to finances and technology, such as constraints in terms of range and transmission capabilities.
The year 2009 marked the introduction of the improved ADM-160B, which showcased
notable advancements in range and transmission capabilities.
A key feature of this upgraded version was the innovative Signature Augmentation Subsystem (SAS),
which employed active radar enhancers to replicate the radar signature of different aircraft types.
By doing so, it effectively deceived defensive systems, rendering enemy anti-aircraft batteries
susceptible to anti-radiation missiles such as the American AGM-88 HARM.
However, a significant shift occurred in 2016 with the introduction of the ADM-160C,
also known as MALD J. This new variant brought about a significant change by incorporating
genuine Electronic Warfare capabilities alongside the Signature Augmentation Subsystem.
As a result, the ADM-160C became the first Stand-In Jammer to be produced.
The modular electronic warfare capability, initially referred to as Cerberus,
encompasses a diverse selection of interchangeable electronic warfare
payloads. This enables the MALD J to function autonomously or in pairs,
operating in closer proximity to its intended targets and allowing for extended periods of
loitering in the designated area, ensuring the successful completion of its mission.
Ongoing developments include the creation of newer versions such as the MALD X,
aimed at enhancing existing capabilities, and the MALD N,
specifically designed to meet the operational needs of the US Navy.
It is unclear if only MALD B has been provided to Ukraine or if other variants are also transferred.
As of 2022, the Ukrainian Air Force had integrated the AGM-88 HARM into its MiG-29 fleet.
There is a possibility that the AGM-160B was discreetly integrated , given its
substantial stock and the complexity associated with newer variants.
Ukrainian forces have been good at gathering intelligence regarding Russian assets.
This has been witnessed in the way Russian ammunition dumps were targeted with HIMARS.
So, it is not hard to assume that they will be able to get coordinates of Russian air defense
systems like S-300, Tor, etc. They are be aided by aircraft like US Air Force or UK
Royal Air Force RC-135V/W Rivet Joint aircraft as well as western satellites.
Viewers may note that the country has also British-supplied Storm Shadow, details of which
can be checked from the video on the above card. Together with Storm Shadow MALD B, would form
an excellent combination that could be deadly for Russian air defenses.