View source for AN/ALE-50 towed decoy system

{{Short description|Military aircraft towed decoy system}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox avionics
<!-- General Info -->
| name             = AN/ALE-50
| image            = F-16CM 2030 Turku Airshow 2015 04 pylon.JPG
| caption          = ALE-50 towed decoy system in the upper part of an [[F-16 Fighting Falcon]] wing pylon
| alt              = Image of ALE-50 mounted on F-16 aircraft
| type             = [[Radar jamming and deception]] towed decoy
| project          = <!-- The name of any "Project" specifically related to the development or use this device (eg. Have Quick, or Pave Paws) -->
<!-- Manufacture Info -->
| manufacturer     = [[Raytheon]]
| status           = In use
| introdate        = {{Start date|1995}}
| years-produced   = 1995{{en dash}}2014
| number           = >25,000
<!-- Usage -->
| used-by-aircraft = {{Plainlist |
*[[B-1B Lancer]]
*[[F-16 Fighting Falcon]]
*[[F/A-18E/F Super Hornet]]}}
| used-by-country  =
| used-by-military = {{Plainlist |
*[[US Air Force]]
*[[US Marine Corps]]
*[[US Navy]]}}
| variants         =
}}
The '''AN/ALE-50 towed decoy system''' is an electronic countermeasure tool designed by [[Raytheon]] to protect multiple US military aircraft from air-to-air and surface-to-air [[Missile guidance#Active homing|radar-guided missiles]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=8 December 2021|title=Raytheon repairs towed decoys for Super Hornets|url=https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/air-warfare/raytheon-repairs-towed-decoys-for-super-hornets/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211208141345/https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/air-warfare/raytheon-repairs-towed-decoys-for-super-hornets/|archive-date=8 December 2021|access-date=3 January 2022|website=Shepard News}}</ref> The AN/ALE-50 towed decoy system is an anti-missile [[Radar jamming and deception|countermeasures decoy system]] used on U.S. [[U.S. Air Force|Air Force]], [[U.S. Navy|Navy]], and [[U.S. Marine Corps|Marine Corps]] aircraft, and by certain non-United States air forces. The system is manufactured by [[Raytheon]] Space and Airborne Systems at its facility in [[Goleta, California]]. The ALE-50 system consists of a launcher and launch controller installed on the aircraft (usually on a wing pylon), and one or more expendable towed [[decoy]]s. Each decoy is delivered in a sealed canister and has a ten-year [[shelf life]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Colman|first=Ron|date=2001|title=AN/ALE-50 Towed Decoy System|url=https://pdfhost.io/v/xLi1cIXWl_ale50|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220104035230/https://pdfhost.io/v/xLi1cIXWl_ale50|archive-date=4 January 2022|access-date=3 January 2022|website=Raytheon Electronic Systems}}</ref>
When deployed, the decoy is towed behind the host aircraft, protecting the aircraft and its crew against RF-guided [[missile]]s by luring the missile toward the decoy and away from the intended target. In both flight tests and actual combat, the ALE-50 has successfully countered numerous live firings of both surface-to-air and air-to-air missiles. U.S. military pilots have nicknamed the decoy "Little Buddy".<ref name="example">{{Cite web|url=http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/raytheons-ale50-little-buddy-decoys-02573/|title=Raytheon's ALE-50 "Little Buddy" Decoys|website=Defense Industry Daily}}</ref> The system requires no threat-specific software, and communicates its health and status to the aircraft over a standard data bus.<ref>{{Cite web|last=A.K.|first=Trikha|date=March 2012|title=Electronic Warfare - Countering Missile Threats|url=https://www.sps-aviation.com/story/?id=927|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220108215054/https://www.sps-aviation.com/story/?id=927|archive-date=8 January 2022|access-date=8 January 2022|website=SP's Aviation}}</ref>
== Operational history ==
The ALE-50 was first deployed in 1995, but is also used on the [[F/A-18E/F Super Hornet]] and the [[B-1 Lancer|B-1B Lancer]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=22 April 2020|title=Contracts|url=https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/2161130/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220104031941/https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/2161130/|archive-date=4 January 2022|access-date=3 January 2022|website=[[US Department of Defense]]}}</ref> The ALE-50 has also been integrated into the next-generation '''AN/ALQ-184(V)9''' [[Electronic countermeasures|ECM]] pod, creating an integrated threat-protection system that can be carried on a larger number of platforms.
The ALE-50 expendable decoys' estimated value is $22,000 each. A production run of 1,048 units were delivered through October 2010.<ref name="example" /> An additional 226 units of ALE-50 Bravo T3F launchers were produced for U.S. Navy F/A-18 E/F aircraft in September 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|first=|date=25 September 2014|title=Local Navy Contract Awards|url=http://somd.com/news/headlines/2014/18610.php|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115104206/http://somd.com/news/headlines/2014/18610.php|archive-date=15 November 2020|access-date=8 January 2022|website=Southern Maryland Online}}</ref>
The ALE-50 towed decoy is currently operational on the [[F-16 Fighting Falcon]], F/A-18E/F, and B-1B aircraft with more than 25,000 deliveries.<ref name="example2">[http://www.raytheon.com/capabilities/products/ale50/ Raytheon Product Information Page]</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Keller|first=John|date=14 June 2019|title=Raytheon to demonstrate electronic warfare (EW) towed decoy aircraft protection from radar-guided missiles|url=https://www.militaryaerospace.com/rf-analog/article/14034871/electronic-warfare-ew-towed-decoy-dualband|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220104033259/https://www.militaryaerospace.com/rf-analog/article/14034871/electronic-warfare-ew-towed-decoy-dualband|archive-date=4 January 2022|access-date=3 January 2022|website=[[Military Aerospace Electronics]]}}</ref>
== See also ==
*[[List of military electronics of the United States]]
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{Raytheon}}
{{Electronic warfare navbox}}
[[Category:Electronic countermeasures]]
[[Category:Electronic warfare equipment]]
[[Category:Military electronics of the United States]]
[[Category:Equipment of the United States Air Force]]
[[Category:Military technology]]
[[Category:Raytheon Company products]]
[[Category:Towed decoys]]
[[Category:Weapons countermeasures]]
[[Category:Military equipment introduced in the 1990s]]
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