IAF’s Su-30MKI is going to receive the Rafael X-Guard fiber optic supersonic decoy system, as reported by the media. The X-Guard system helps evade surface-to-air and air-to-air missiles. X-Guard is an advanced towed decoy solution that can defeat advanced tracking radar such as monopole and lobe-on-receive-only radar types. The decoy is towed behind the fighter aircraft, can be deployed mid-flight, and is retractable. It can be integrated with any platform’s EW suite as a high-value active suite component.

Towed decoys are decoys on fighter aircraft that attract incoming threats and deceive them. The towed decoys are part of the aircraft’s EW suite and are pulled along with the aircraft. The X-Guard fiber optic supersonic towed decoy is designed to counter RF-guided missiles, specifically radar-guided missiles. It works with the aircraft’s electronic warfare system to provide radar jamming and can lure incoming missiles away from their actual target.

These towed decoys have special capabilities and can decoy and jam other radars, including Monopulse Radar and LORO (Lobe-On-Receive-Only) radars, which normal EW suits cannot protect against. It can be used multiple times, retracted, and can fly with the aircraft at a speed of up to 1.6 Mach. It can also withstand forces and acceleration of 9G, making it useful even when the jet is cruising at supersonic speed. The connection with the aircraft is through optic fiber, providing a high power supply.

The X-Guard technology upgrade for the Su-30s is expected to be very helpful against incoming missiles from China and Pakistan, even beating the PL-15 missiles. It can also target enemy radar and electro-optical systems using precision-guided ammunition and anti-radiation missiles.

The system operates over a wide frequency range, making it effective against various types of radars and missiles. The decoy is retrievable and can be deployed several times during a mission, with the fiber-optic connection allowing accurate jamming.