The U.S. Navy intends to award a contract to Leonardo for the large-scale delivery of airborne countermeasures to support F-35 and F/A-18 series combat aircraft, including the Hornet, Super Hornet, and Growler.
A Naval Air Systems Command announcement states the Navy plans to negotiate a fixed-price agreement with Leonardo’s UK arm, encompassing the supply of decoys, impulse cartridges, sustainment, support tools, and field technicians. Under the contract, Leonardo would produce between 3,000 and 6,000 Active Expendable Decoys (AEDs) per year.
The project is expected to include Leonardo’s BriteCloud decoys, which use compact, battery-powered radio frequency systems for threat protection. The BriteCloud is available in both a 55mm cylindrical version (1.1 kg/2.4 lbs) and a lighter rectangular version (155mm/6.1 in long, 0.5 kg/1.1 lbs).
