Northrup MALD

  The Northrup UAV-44 MALD is a drone specifically developed to fool hostile radars into believing it is an enemy fighter. The system is a small, 2.3m airplane that can emulate most aircraft. It accomplishes this by using a signature augmentation system (SAS) mounted in the airframe. It can emulate most threat aircraft electronically through the use of ED like protocols, as well as emulating any typical flight profile necessary, whether high altitude or low level flight. The intention is of course to fool any IADS (Integrated Air Defense System) to activate, thereby letting friendly forces where the threats are for follow up by "Wild Weasel" aircraft or in another case, to scramble opposing forces, then let them expend their ammunition, while friendly aircraft can attack with a full combat load, or to confuse and harass an opponent as well. This is accomplished through the use of side mounted antennas mounted in the nose, as well as other apertures mounted in the wings (low-band), and as well as the ventral fin (high-band) that cover frequencies from VHF to SHF. The drone’s computer can store up to 256 waypoints, with an accuracy (combined through GPS) of +/- 1m. Furthermore, the flight profile can be selected while the drone is on a hardpoint.
  The whole airframe is made out of the cheapest materials possible, with some level of reliability, to keep down costs. The electronics make use of reused components, as well as snap fittings, as well as an inexpensive turbojet engine to propel the vehicle. The vehicle can be launched from any standard hardpoint, as well as launched from a standard triple ejector rack, or even launched from bomb bays. The only other service variant, the M577 MALD, used by Saeder-Krupp, is based on a different frame and has 100 more liters of fuel.
  For game use, the SAS can automatically adjust the Signature of the drone via a Simple Action. The rigger also can adjust the Signature while it is in flight as well. However, the drone is typically set at 4, to reflect an "average" among fighter aircraft. However, when viewed with thermographic sensors, use the normal Signature of 6. The SAS itself has programming to allow it to emulate any threat aircraft, whether it is a cargo plane or fighter plane. It of course cannot emulate any tilt-wing airplane. Any aircraft that has a Signature (stock model) higher than 6 (very rare on stock models that is of course) higher than 6 cannot of course be emulated. Of course any sensor that is seeing this will automatically assume that it is what it is. However, the launching player before launch must declare what type it will emulate, and flight profile. While the drone does have a crappy range, it should be enough to get shot down. Also, when ECD is used against the drone (very valid), reduce the ECD’s rating by half, yes half. The point is that the vehicle isn’t trying to fool what direction it is going, but it’s trying to fool exactly what type it is, so it would only be half effective, and there is no minimum rating when the rating is halved (gotta by the good stuff).

  Handling | Speed | Accel | Body | Armor | Sig | Autonav | Pilot | Sensor
  3 | 40/480 | 30 | 1 | 0 | 6* | 4 | 4 | 1

  Fuel: Jet (220 liters)
  Economy: 0.5 km per liter
  Setup/Breakdown Time: 1 minute
  Landing/Takeoff Profile: Special
  Other Features: Learning Pool (2, Threat Emulation), SAS
  Cost: 211,500¥
  Weight: 40 kilograms
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