2001 War in Afghanistan

AN/ALE-50 towed decoy in the 2001 War in Afghanistan

The AN/ALE-50 was documented as a U.S. aircraft self-protection decoy used in combat over Afghanistan, where it served as an electronic-warfare and force-protection countermeasure against radar-guided missile threats.

Weapon profileAN/ALE-50 towed decoy
SideUnited States, NATO, and Afghan government forcesRoleElectronic WarfareForce Protection
AN/ALE-50 towed decoy, Towed decoy countermeasure, Electronic Warfare - 2001 War in Afghanistan
Image source: ALE-50 on USAF F-16C at MCAS Iwakuni

Evidence Map

ClaimSources
ALE-50(V) interim towed decoys were used in combat during operations over Afghanistan.

Sources: Forecast International IDECM Archived 2008

Raytheon identified Afghanistan as a conflict where AN/ALE-50 provided combat-proven protection against RF missile threats.

Sources: Raytheon AN/ALE-50 Towed Decoy System Data Sheet

The AN/ALE-50 role was aircraft self-protection against radar-guided missiles rather than offensive strike.

Sources: Raytheon Delivers 20,000th ALE-50 Towed Decoy, GAO Towed Decoys and Navy Aircraft Survivability

Public sources identify F-16, F/A-18, and B-1B as operational AN/ALE-50 aircraft, and U.S. Air Force material describes B-1B participation in Operation Enduring Freedom.

Sources: Raytheon Delivers 20,000th ALE-50 Towed Decoy, USAF B-1B Lancer Fact Sheet

Timeline

AN/ALE-50 towed decoy In 2001 War in Afghanistan

  1. Operation Enduring Freedom begins

    U.S.-led air operations begin in Afghanistan after the September 11 attacks.

    Sources: CFR U.S. 2001 War in Afghanistan Timeline

  2. Raytheon reports broad combat-proven ALE-50 service

    Raytheon announces delivery of the 20,000th ALE-50 and describes the system as operational on F-16, F/A-18, and B-1B aircraft with successful performance in several military conflicts.

    Sources: Raytheon Delivers 20,000th ALE-50 Towed Decoy

  3. Archived report identifies Afghanistan combat use

    Forecast International's archived IDECM report states that ALE-50(V) interim decoys were used in combat during operations over Afghanistan.

    Sources: Forecast International IDECM Archived 2008

Documented Use

Direct proof of use

Forecast International's archived IDECM report states that ALE-50(V) interim towed decoys were used in combat during operations over Afghanistan, alongside Kosovo and Iraq. Raytheon's archived AN/ALE-50 data sheet separately identifies Afghanistan as a conflict where the decoy provided combat-proven protection against radio-frequency missile threats.

The documented role was defensive rather than strike employment: the AN/ALE-50 was a towed electronic countermeasure carried by U.S. aircraft to lure radar-guided missiles away from the host aircraft.

Sources: Forecast International IDECM Archived 2008, Raytheon AN/ALE-50 Towed Decoy System Data Sheet, Raytheon Delivers 20,000th ALE-50 Towed Decoy

Timeline

Operation Enduring Freedom began in Afghanistan on October 7, 2001. The available AN/ALE-50-specific sources do not isolate a first sortie or first decoy expenditure in Afghanistan, but they document the system's combat use there by the mid-2000s.

In May 2006, Raytheon announced delivery of the 20,000th ALE-50 decoy and described the system as operational on F-16, F/A-18, and B-1B aircraft. In February 2007, Forecast International's archived IDECM report described ALE-50(V) interim decoys as used in combat over Afghanistan.

Sources: CFR U.S. 2001 War in Afghanistan Timeline, Raytheon Delivers 20,000th ALE-50 Towed Decoy, Forecast International IDECM Archived 2008

Narrative

The AN/ALE-50 appears in the Afghanistan record as part of U.S. aircrew survivability equipment, not as a weapon used to attack ground targets. The system consisted of a launch controller, launcher, and expendable towed decoy that trailed behind the host aircraft and presented a more attractive radar target to incoming radar-guided missiles.

Open sources tie the AN/ALE-50 to F-16, F/A-18, and B-1B aircraft. U.S. Air Force fact sheets describe the B-1B's self-protection suite as including the ALE-50 and record heavy B-1B participation in early Operation Enduring Freedom, while the direct AN/ALE-50 conflict-use evidence comes from Raytheon and Forecast International rather than a sortie-by-sortie official release.

Within the catalog's conflict model, the supported side is United States, NATO, and Afghan government forces. The supported role package is electronic warfare and force protection: the system was fielded to protect aircraft and crews from radar-guided missile threats during the Afghanistan war.

Sources: Raytheon Delivers 20,000th ALE-50 Towed Decoy, GAO Towed Decoys and Navy Aircraft Survivability, USAF B-1B Lancer Fact Sheet, Forecast International IDECM Archived 2008, Raytheon AN/ALE-50 Towed Decoy System Data Sheet

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Sources