MALD Reaches 0.9 Mach:

May 30, 2007

The Miniature Air Launched Decoy under test at Eglin AFB, Fla., reached speeds up to 0.9 Mach during its first powered flight test on April 30, according to a May 23 release from the Armament Systems Center at Eglin. An F-16 launched the turbojet powered MALD, which then had no electrical power or communications provided by the F-16—a first for a GPS/Inertial Navigation System-guided weapon, reports Capt. C.J. Hale. The test team plans to begin tests with a B-52 next month.

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