amoss%batata.Huji.AC.IL%CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU (Amos Shapira) (07/01/89)
From: Amos Shapira <amoss%batata.Huji.AC.IL%CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU>
The Delilah TALD (Tactical Air-Launched Decoy) is a companion decoy missile
to the older Samson decoy used in the 1982 air battles over Beka'a.
The Samson was developed jointly by Ta'as and Brunswick Corp. for the IAF in
1976, then offered to the USAF, but not accepted.
An engineless system with folding wings, the Samson may be allowed to glide
in a straight path or to perform a pre-programmed manuever, while carrying
either chaff or a "radar lens" which shows as a full sized aircraft on enemy
radars. The price of a single decoy is around US$25,000, and any number may be
carried by a single launching aircraft in single, double, tripple or sextuple
adapters. Of limited range (around 35km), Samson is used to saturate defences
with false radar signatures.
The Samson was tested by the USN after the December 1982 debacle over
Lebanon, when 3 US aircraft were lost and some more damaged. In 1985 the USN
purchased several thousands Samsons from Brunswick and Ta'as.
Concurrently with sales of the Samson to the USN, Ta'as and Brunswick started
improving the Samson, increasing range (over 100km), manueverablity and payload.
A "loiter over target area" flight mode was added.
The Delilah TALD was developed by Ta'as alone. It is powered by a turbo-jet
engine, and thus presents a more "convincing" threat on the radar. Being
powered, Delilah is capable of NOE flight. An internal guidance system is now
being added, which will enable the Delilah to use sattelite transmitted
coordinates to reach a preset point.
Marc A. Volovic, Sgt (res.) amoss@batata.huji.ac.il
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
The opinions contained herein are mine. The data contained herein is either
public knowledge or hearsay. Nothing I say is condoned by anyone. It is not
my fault. I wasn't here.
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+