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BriteCloud
Inception2013
ManufacturerSelex ES
Leonardo-Finmeccanica (since 2016)
Leonardo (since 2017)

BriteCloud is a self-contained expendable digital radio frequency memory (DRFM) jammer developed by Selex ES (merged into Leonardo since 2017) to help protect military aircraft. The decoy was launched by Selex ES at a conference held at the Churchill War Rooms, London on 6 November 2013.[1]

Background

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Military aircraft face a highly developed airborne and surface-based RF threat. Mobile surface-to-air missiles with highly accurate RF tracking systems present a formidable threat when used in pop-up mode, and many older systems have been retrofitted with modern electronics that have greatly enhanced their capabilities. The modern systems are particularly difficult to counter, and have an array of Electronic Protection Measures (EPM) at their disposal.

Description

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BriteCloud was developed to counter modern tracking systems. Its technology is based on previous generations of electronic countermeasures such as repeaters and Towed Radar Decoys (TRD). When launched, the battery-powered decoy searches for and counters priority threats. Incoming radar pulses are received and the BriteCloud’s onboard computer copies these pulses and uses them to simulate a ‘false target’ so that the threat system cannot detect the intended target and fails.

It is available in two versions: the BriteCloud 55 decoy launched from standard 55 mm diameter chaff/flare cartridge dispensers, and the BriteCloud 218 decoy launched from smaller 2”×1”×8” square-format standard cartridge dispensers. In 2019, the development of the BriteCloud 55-T was announced, designed for bigger military aircraft with larger radar cross-sections, eg. the Lockheed C-130 Hercules.[2]

Development and testing

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The first trials of the BriteCloud 55 decoy on the Eurofighter Typhoon took place in April 2019. Integration work on the aircraft is ongoing, as part of Project Centurion. Once in service with the RAF, BriteCloud will be one of the countermeasures available to the Typhoon’s Praetorian DASS.[3][4]

The BriteCloud 218 version was first tested on a Royal Danish Air Force F-16, successfully deploying the decoy after a real surface-to-air missile targeting system was used to lock on to the aircraft.[5]

The BriteCloud 218 decoy has now been approved by the US Air National Guard for deployment on its F-16 fleet, after the US Defense Department's Foreign Comparative Testing trials that began in 2019. It uses standard-size rectangular (square-format) rounds, compatible with common dispensers for example the AN/ALE-47, and is thus useable on other 4th Generation fighters including the F-15, F/A-18 and A-10. Its US designation will be the AN/ALQ-260(V)1.[6][7]

The decoy has been integrated on the General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper and MQ-9B Sky/SeaGuardian UCAVs after testing in late 2020. It's deployed by an AN/ALE-47 dispenser, part of the aircraft's Self-Protection Pod.[8][9]

The BriteCloud 55-T version has now been upgraded to pass NATO's STANAG-4871 self-protection standard. This means it now features compatibility with 'smart dispenser' systems, allowing the decoy to share data with the host aircraft's onboard self-protection system. It also now enables the ability to interface with smart dispenser systems using the NATO-developed Smart Stores Communication Interface (SSCI). The SSCI means BriteCloud can be carried with a mixed load of expendibles and allows automatic logging of payload data e.g. air carriage life. Leonardo is planning to apply this update to the BriteCloud 218 version.[10]

SPEAR-EW

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Main article: Spear-ew

Technologies from BriteCloud are being used to develop the payload for SPEAR-EW, the electronic warfare variant of the SPEAR product line under development for the Royal Air Force. SPEAR-EW will be capable of both stand-in / stand-off jamming / spoofing similar to the capabilities of the US Air Force's ADM-160 MALD.[11][12]

Partners

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Selex ES announced at the 2013 launch event that defence and security company Saab will be the first partner to offer the new decoy as an optional electronic warfare enhancement for all versions of the JAS 39 Gripen, both new and existing.[13]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ SNew Selex ES expendable active decoy ‘Britecloud' selected by SAAB for Gripen Fighter
  2. ^ D'URSO, STEFANO (July 2021). "A Deep Dive Into BriteCloud Advanced Expendable Active Decoy".
  3. ^ Valpolini, Paolo (24 May 2019). "Leonardo's BriteCloud decoy flies toward service on RAF Typhoons". Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  4. ^ "BriteCloud is passing the test". uk.leonardo.com. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  5. ^ SABALLA, JOE (November 2022). "US OKs Fielding BriteCloud Miniaturized Decoy on F-16 Fighters".
  6. ^ Saballa, Joe (28 November 2022). "US OKs Fielding BriteCloud Miniaturized Decoy on F-16 Fighters". Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  7. ^ "U.S. Air National Guard recommend fielding Leonardo's BriteCloud 218 decoy after successfully completing an extensive US Defense Department test programme". www.leonardo.com. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  8. ^ D'Urso, Stefano (31 January 2021). "General Atomics Reveals Self-Protection Pod For The MQ-9 Reaper". Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  9. ^ D'Urso, Stefano (26 March 2022). "Leonardo's BriteCloud Cleared To Begin Foreign Comparative Testing In The U.S." Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  10. ^ "Leonardo upgrades BriteCloud decoy with new smart features". Leonardo. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  11. ^ "SPEAR Missile - Think Defence". www.thinkdefence.co.uk. 6 November 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  12. ^ Rogoway, Tyler (12 September 2019). "SPEAR Mini-Cruise Missile Getting An Electronic Warfare Variant To Swarm With Is A Huge Deal". The Drive. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  13. ^ "Aerospace, Defence and Security". www.leonardo.com. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
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