AN / ALE-50

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The AN / ALE-50 ( JETDS designation) is a drag bait for the protection of combat aircraft . It is used by the US Corporation Raytheon produces.

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ALE-50 trolling lure

The ALE-50 is designed to protect a carrier aircraft from radar- guided missiles . To achieve this goal, a completely new approach was chosen: Instead of the usual chaff , a device is used that is dragged behind the aircraft on a cable and generates a very large radar cross-section using a special transmission technology . This cross-section is considerably higher than that of the carrier aircraft, making the tow bait a more attractive target for an approaching guided weapon. Since the bait is dragged behind the machine, the missile's guidance system can distinguish between target and decoy much more poorly, since the latter cannot be Doppler-Filter can be identified as such, as was still possible with Chaff.

The system itself consists of several towed radar baits, a launch device and a control system. Depending on the size of the carrier platform, three to eight baits are carried, which leave the launch device on command and are pulled behind the machine by means of a cable a few dozen meters away. The system remains operational even during tough maneuvers. If the bait is hit and destroyed, the cable is hauled in and another bait is released. However, if it survives the threat intact, it can also be caught up and used again later.

The system was introduced in 1996 and has already proven itself in many conflicts, such as the Iraq or Kosovo war . In the latter, it was found to be very effective in deflecting SA-6 Gainful surface-to-air guided missiles. Because of the success, over 25,000 trolling baits have been produced and shipped to date, with each bait costing around $ 22,000.

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  1. ↑ Journal of Electronic Defense, June 2011, p. 47