Case Study: Low-cost, three-dimensional Towed Radar Decoy

One of the most recent additions to the arsenal of active radar counter measures is the Towed Radar Decoy (TRD). These systems deploy a unit externally from the aircraft on some kind of cable and gather critical flight data.

Tekdata Interconnect designed and produced the TRD main harness which is fitted to the RAF's Tornado F3 aircraft. The TRD consists of a dispenser, data collection & decoy electronics. The harness construction having 600+ signals, power and shields. Delpoyed on an inter-linking 100 metres long umbilical cable assembly comprising two single mode, all-silica fibre optic cables.

After deployment air turbulence twists and kinks the umbilical, which means it cannot be easily re housed in the dispenser. The TRD is therefore released from its launching reel before landing and subsequently recovered.

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