"Probe" deploying from Super Hornet.

[WINGEDHUSSAR 2]

I have EricJ's F/A-18E and while playing with animations, noticed a "probe" deploy from the bottom of the aircraft and is towed during flight. what is it? is it some kind of antenna/sensor or type of RAT (Ram Air Turbine)? I'd take a screenshot but for some reason i can't, i always get a blank image. 

[maverickvf142 2]

It's the AN/ALE-55 Fiber-Optic Towed Decoy. 

 

[TeargasHorse 287]

Wow, that's cool, does it work for a decoy in game?

[Stratos 3,188]

Wow, that's cool, does it work for a decoy in game?

 

Don't think so, is just eye candy I think. In this book, the author talk a lot about it's use in real combat, recommended reading.

 

[WINGEDHUSSAR 2]

cool, thank you for the info