The US Navy has awarded a $33.6m contract to BAE Systems for the radio frequency countermeasure AN/ALE-55 fibre-optic towed device (FOTD) for strike fighter aircraft.

As part of the navy’s integrated defensive electronic countermeasures system the ALE-55 will furnish the aircraft with electronic defence against radar-guided missile attacks.

The decoy consists of an onboard electronic frequency converter (EFC) to convert radio frequencies to light and an FOTD to jam missile threats to the aircraft.

The company started the AN/ALE-55 lot IV production in June 2008 and is expected to complete deliveries by September 2011.