The Air Force awarded Raytheon a contract for 250 Miniature Air Launched Decoy Jammers under a $91.5 million contract option announced on March 18. The contract option covers MALD-J production Block 8, which will be delivered through June 2017, according to the Defense Department contract announcement on Wednesday. The Air Force purchased 200 MALD-J under the Block 7 base production contract awarded last summer, which are scheduled for delivery through June 2016, according to DOD’s previous announcement. MALD-J is currently integrated to provide stand-off decoy and jamming to the B-52 and F-16.
The 301st Fighter Wing in Fort Worth, Texas, became the first standalone Reserve unit in the Air Force to get its own F-35s, welcoming the first fighter Nov. 5.