The U.S. Navy is planning to award a contract to Leonardo for the supply of thousands of airborne countermeasures for its F-35 Lightning II and F/A-18 Hornet, Super Hornet, and Growler aircraft fleets.
According to a notice from the Naval Air Systems Command, the Navy intends to negotiate a fixed-price deal with Leonardo’s UK division covering materials, labor, equipment, and overhead. If finalized, the agreement will involve the annual production of 3,000 to 6,000 Active Expendable Decoys (AEDs), along with impulse cartridges, support equipment, sustainment services, and on-site technical representatives.
Leonardo’s BriteCloud, a likely candidate for the program, is a self-powered RF countermeasure designed to deceive radar-guided threats. It comes in two variants: a 55mm round version weighing 1.1 kg (2.4 lbs) and a rectangular model measuring 155mm (6.1 in) and weighing 0.5 kg (1.1 lbs).
