OVERVIEW: The ADM-160C MALD-J is a stand-in, air-launched, expendable electronic countermeasure decoy designed for offensive electronic attack against enemy air defenses. It combines the baseline MALD decoy with an onboard jammer to disrupt and degrade adversary radar systems during combat operations.

DETAILS: ADM stands for Air-Launched Decoy Missile, and MALD-J refers to Miniature Air-Launched Decoy – Jammer. The ADM-160C is an evolution of the ADM-160B, developed by Raytheon under U.S. Air Force direction to provide a dual-role capability: decoy and jammer. It retains the B-model's flight characteristics and range but adds an electronic warfare payload capable of executing reactive jamming against enemy emitters. Its role is to penetrate contested environments, escort strike packages, and conduct stand-in jamming without risking crewed assets.

The ADM-160C introduced a fully integrated, onboard electronic warfare payload while preserving modularity and programming flexibility for mission-specific jamming profiles.

FUNCTION: Once launched, the ADM-160C navigates using GPS-aided INS and flies a programmable route toward enemy radar zones, where it activates its internal EW suite to jam and confuse radars in real time. It can operate independently or in coordinated swarms to support suppression or deception of integrated air defense systems.

NOTE:
IOC: 2003 (ADM-160A), 2011 (ADM-160B), 2014 (ADM-160C)
Operators: United States
Platforms: F-16C Fighting Falcon, B-52H Stratofortress, F-15E Strike Eagle
Conflict used in: Not publicly confirmed as of 2025

SOURCE:
U.S. Air Force Armament Museum ; Jane’s Weapons: Air-Launched ; Raytheon Technologies: https://www.rtx.com/news/news-center/2021/04/20/mald-turns-20 ; U.S. Department of Defense Budget Justification: https://www.saffm.hq.af.mil/Portals/84/documents/FY21/AFD-2002-02-14-123456.pdf ; Federation of American Scientists (FAS): https://fas.org/programs/ssp/technology/mald.html