Security
U.S. Air Force Clearance Could Open the Door For BriteCloud
Leonardo has developed the BriteCloud family of expendable active decoys to provide vital radio frequency protection at an affordable cost.
Fired from a standard countermeasures dispenser, the BriteCloud lures radar-guided missiles away from their intended target. (Photo: Leonardo)
Fired from a standard countermeasures dispenser, the BriteCloud lures radar-guided missiles away from their intended target. (Photo: Leonardo)

Leonardo’s BriteCloud 218 expendable active decoy (EAD) has won clearance from the U.S. Air Force’s Seek Eagle Office (AFSEO)—the service’s Eglin-based center of excellence for store/platform compatibility—for operational testing on the Lockheed Martin F-16. The U.S. Air National Guard will conduct a series of validation flight tests this year, bringing an end to the Department of Defense’s Foreign Comparative Testing (FCT) program for the product.

The end-result of the FCT is the clearance of BriteCloud 218 for off-the-shelf procurement by U.S. forces. However, the EAD is also receiving considerable interest from international air arms, particularly those that operate the F-16, and there are a number of opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region.