The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has placed a £2.5 million order for a UK-designed and built miniature decoy which will help to protect combat jets from missiles.
BriteCloud has been designed and manufactured in Bedfordshire and Scotland and is set to undergo flight trial on RAF Tornado aircraft later on in the year.
The decoy is similar in size and appearance to a beverage can and can be fired from an aircraft’s flare dispenser without the need for modification to the aircraft. Once deployed, it uses powerful radar emissions to disrupt systems within radar-guided air-to-air and surface-to-air missiles.
The unit can be deployed to confuse an attacking missile, drawing it away to a point where it no longer poses a threat.
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said: “The cutting-edge technology behind BriteCloud demonstrates the MoD’s commitment to harnessing and growing the incredible creativity in our Defence supply chain.
“Supported by our £178 billion investment in equipment, these new decoy systems show that we are continually pushing the boundaries of innovation, making the most of Great British skills and brains to keep our Armed Forces safe from our adversaries.”
Tony Douglas, chief executive officer at the MoD’s Defence Equipment and Support organisation, said: “The development of BriteCloud has only recently been made possible after many years of advances in technology, and shows how UK Defence, in partnership with industry, is leading the charge when it comes to research and development.
“Flight trials planned for later this year will test the system’s effectiveness against a wide range of current and potential threats, helping to ensure that UK pilots have the tools they need to successfully complete their missions wherever they are in the world.”
