The US Navy’s Naval Sea Systems Command has awarded IrvinGQ (Llangeinor, UK) a $24.8 million sole-source contract for follow-on production of the MK 59 floating radio frequency (RF) decoy system.
Designed to provide protection against RF-guided anti-ship missiles, the MK 59 system deploys an inflatable multi-reflector structure to achieve a ship-like radar cross section. The decoy, which can be employed in both distraction and seduction modes, is ejected from a deck-mounted launch tube which is itself connected to an operator control panel (used to initiate decoy launch).
MK 59 is the US nomenclature for the Outfit DLF(3b) decoy system originally developed by IrvinGQ for the UK Royal Navy (RN). The system – previously acquired by the US Navy in 2012 under a rapid response effort to meet a critical fleet need – equips a number of the US Navy’s early DDG 51 guided missile destroyers: each ship fit comprises three twin-launcher installations (one to starboard and two to port).
Alongside the RN and the USN, IrvinGQ has also sold the proprietary FDS3 export variant of Outfit DLF(3b) to New Zealand and Canada. – R. Scott
