A highly specialized type of missile that is designed to be small while producing a sufficiently large radar return to trick radars into thinking it is an incoming fighter or bomber aircraft and distract enemy air defenses. Usually fired from an aircraft, it will fly in the direction of its target, though it will not attempt to impact it. Instead, it will maintain the desired altitude and fly until it runs out of fuel or is shot down by air defense.
ALDs are intended to be used in SEAD missions and air raids to trick enemy air defenses into wasting their missiles, buying strike aircraft enough time to get their targets within range of their weapons. They can be GPS or radar-guided.
A highly specialized type of missile that is designed to be small while producing a sufficiently large radar return to trick radars into thinking it is an incoming fighter or bomber aircraft and distract enemy air defenses. Usually fired from an aircraft, it will fly in the direction of its target, though it will not attempt to impact it. Instead, it will maintain the desired altitude and fly until it runs out of fuel or is shot down by air defense.
ALDs are intended to be used in SEAD missions and air raids to trick enemy air defenses into wasting their missiles, buying strike aircraft enough time to get their targets within range of their weapons. They can be GPS or radar-guided.