An assembly is configured for connection to an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and comprises a plurality of emulator devices each configured for attachment to the UAV and a plurality of first connection tethers each configured to operably couple a respective one of the plurality of emulator devices to the UAV at a respective spacing from the UAV. The emulator devices each comprise an emulation component configured to provide, to a target detection system, a characteristic associated with a respective type of airborne object. The plurality of respective first connection tethers each comprises material that does not substantially reflect RF energy. During flight of the UAV, when the assembly is connected, each respective emulator device maintains the respective spacing from the UAV and emulates the characteristic to the target detection system, such that the assembly emulates, to the target detection system, a plurality of airborne objects.

An aerodynamically shaped, active towed body includes a fuselage curved along its vertical and horizontal longitudinal plane. The fuselage has a unit chamber and a load chamber. A transverse plane of the fuselage is triangular, two upper corners being located on an upper face of the fuselage and a lower corner being located on a lower face of the fuselage. Each of two wings is subdivided into a small and a large segment. The small segment points downwards and is attached to the fuselage in a region of the lower corner and the large segment points upwards and is attached to the small segment. Each of the small segments comprise an additional load chamber. The towed body further includes a tail fin, rudders that are each adjustable by the control device and a coupling for the towing cable.

A tow cable for a decoy on a fast jet aircraft is described. The tow cable has a composite structure with a high friction fibre outer containment braiding, and low friction fibre internal strength members. Additional to these internal fibres may be electrical conductors and optical fibres. The whole composite providing a tow cable with high towing endurance and reliable in-flight performance, for flight profiles including high performance manoeuvres and in-flight refuelling.

Methods and structures associated with a towed, autonomous, or remotely controlled airborne mobile system including a plurality of reflection structure sections and shapes adapted for attracting attention of search systems configured for sensing pattern recognition based electromagnetic or visual reflections from the structures and shapes and related methods

Methods and structures associated with a towed, autonomous, or remotely controlled airborne mobile system including a plurality of reflection structure sections and shapes adapted for attracting attention of search systems configured for sensing pattern recognition based electromagnetic or visual reflections from the structures and shapes and related methods

The invention provides an airborne passive decoy system for use in the radio waveband, the system comprising a controllable aerial propulsion unit and one or more retroreflectors, wherein the one or more retroreflectors are mounted on, contained within or otherwise borne by the controllable propulsion unit, and wherein the system is configured such that the one or more retroreflectors can be deployed as a decoy at a desired location and/or time. The system is an integral system which does not rely on tethers, cables or suchlike. Related methods and uses are also provided.

The invention provides an airborne passive decoy system for use in the radio waveband, the system comprising a controllable aerial propulsion unit and one or more retroreflectors, wherein the one or more retroreflectors are mounted on, contained within or otherwise borne by the controllable propulsion unit, and wherein the system is configured such that the one or more retroreflectors can be deployed as a decoy at a desired location and/or time. The system is an integral system which does not rely on tethers, cables or suchlike. Related methods and uses are also provided.

Methods and structures associated with a towed, autonomous, or remotely controlled airborne mobile system including a plurality of reflection structure sections and shapes adapted for attracting attention of search systems configured for sensing pattern recognition based electromagnetic or visual reflections from the structures and shapes and related methods.

Methods and structures associated with a towed, autonomous, or remotely controlled airborne mobile system including a plurality of reflection structure sections and shapes adapted for attracting attention of search systems configured for sensing pattern recognition based electromagnetic or visual reflections from the structures and shapes and related methods.

An assembly is configured for connection to an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and comprises a plurality of emulator devices each configured for attachment to the UAV and a plurality of first connection tethers each configured to operably couple a respective one of the plurality of emulator devices to the UAV at a respective spacing from the UAV. The emulator devices each comprise an emulation component configured to provide, to a target detection system, a characteristic associated with a respective type of airborne object. The plurality of respective first connection tethers each comprises material that does not substantially reflect RF energy. During flight of the UAV, when the assembly is connected, each respective emulator device maintains the respective spacing from the UAV and emulates the characteristic to the target detection system, such that the assembly emulates, to the target detection system, a plurality of airborne objects.