The Air Force currently has no plans to integrate the miniature air launched decoy, or MALD, on platforms other than the F-16 and B-52, the service’s acquisition shop tells the Daily Report. In the past, Air Force officials have spoken of potentially operating them on additional aircraft such as F-15Es. There are also “no plans at this time” to develop the MALD air vehicle beyond the roles of decoy and radar jammer, the office said. MALD-maker Raytheon says the air vehicle’s modular design allows it to adapt easily to other roles like jamming enemy communications. USAF is nearing the in-service date for the ADM-160B MALD, which is designed to confuse enemy air defenses. The ADM-160C MALD-J, the jammer variant, is expected to enter the inventory in several years. The Air Force intends to buy a total of 3,000 MALD and MALD-Js. (For more read, Time to Be Fooled.)
A provision in the fiscal 2025 defense policy bill will require the Defense Department to include the military occupational specialty of service members who die by suicide in its annual report on suicide deaths, though it remains to be seen how much data the department will actually disclose.