LONDON—Leonardo’s BriteCloud active decoy has secured a significant endorsement from the U.S. Defense Department following extensive testing by the U.S. Air National Guard.
The UK-developed, drink can-size BriteCloud, which is designed to be dispensed like chaff and infrared decoys to lure away advanced surface-to-air missile threats, has been issued with a fielding recommendation following three years of testing by the Air National Guard Air Force Reserve Command Test Center (AATC).
The recommendation for the “218” version of BriteCloud, which can fit into the rectangular-shaped dispensers used on the F-16, paves the way for potential sales of the system in the U.S. and also with foreign operators of the F-16.
As part of the recommendation, the BriteCloud 218—named for its dimensions of 2 in. x 1 in. x 8 in.—has also been given its own Pentagon designation of AN/ALQ-260(V)1, which reflects the device’s electronic warfare capabilities; AN/ALQ designations are normally associated with electronic warfare and countermeasures pods as well as jamming systems.
“The fielding recommendation means BriteCloud has met [Air National Guard] testing requirements … and it’s met and exceeded what they wanted,” says Wayne Smith, vice president for electronic warfare sales at Leonardo.
“This is a big step for us. They are the lead user for this kind of capability,” Smith adds.
Smith says the trials were a “major milestone in verification of the capability. That’s important to us and our potential users.”
AATC undertook an extensive Foreign Comparative Testing program for the system, dispensing the device against a variety of potential threat systems.
Smith says the level of testing reflected the growing complexity of electronic warfare and platform protection requirements.
Once released from the dispensing aircraft, the BriteCloud uses digital radio frequency memory (DRFM) to create a false aim point for radar-guided missiles luring them away from their target.
Developed in conjunction with the UK Royal Air Force’s (RAF) Rapid Capability Office, BriteCloud has already seen limited frontline service on the RAF’s Panavia Tornado combat aircraft before the type was retired from service in early 2019. Work is underway to introduce the decoy onto the RAF’s Eurofighter Typhoon fleet in BriteCloud’s cylindrical 55mm version. Leonardo has also repackaged BriteCloud into several configurations to make it compatible with other platforms. The 218 allows the decoy to be used on both the Lockheed Martin F-16 and the Boeing F-15.
A more powerful version of the 55mm version—called 55T—has been developed to equip larger aircraft such as tankers, airlifters and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft. The additional power enables the DRFM to mimic a larger target.
Smith says there is now increasing interest in BriteCloud, particularly following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has demonstrated the need for more destruction and suppression of enemy air defense capability.
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