Airborne Systems merits
UK-based Airborne Systems
is pushing
the merits of its FDS3 inflatable
floating corner reflector .
Based on the latest
version of the Royal Navy’s Outfit
DLF soft-kill decoy system, FDS3 is
a ship-deployed, passive radio fre-
quency (RF) countermeasure that
can be used in seduction, distraction
and confusion roles against even the
most modern RF missile seekers.
The FDS3 system comprises a
deck-mounted launch tube, which
is preloaded with the stowed decoy.
Following launch activation in the
operations room, the decoy package
– of ‘metallised fabric’ construction –
is launched out of the tube and then
fully inflated alongside the ship’s
hull on the sea surface.
Once fully inflated, the decoy is
automatically released and floats
free past the stern. According to
Airborne Systems, the very rapid
deployment and inflation time
“means that full radar cross-section
Decoys afloat FDS3 is a rapid-
response RF floating decoy
is achieved within seconds of launch
into the sea… This provides for a
very effective seduction capability
suitable for use against supersonic
and late turn-on threats”
SA Artillery