It added that Leonardo was “the only contractor who possesses the manufacturing technology, infrastructure, capacity and platform qualifications to complete all requirements”.

The notice said: “The Naval Air Systems Command intends to negotiate and award a contract … to Leonardo, United Kingdom.”

Iain Bancroft, senior vice president electronic warfare at Leonardo, said BriteCloud protects an aircraft and its pilot “from any incoming missiles” using advanced jamming and signals technology. 

Speaking to The Telegraph at the Royal International Air Tattoo, he added: “This is absolutely cutting edge, nobody else in the world has this capability. 

“It is in operational use with the UK and we have been doing testing in the US with the Air National Guard since 2018.

“BriteCloud is an expendable, programmable, active decoy with no integration costs.

“It effectively jams signals and spoofs an incoming missile, so it will not know where the aircraft is.

“The device was designed and developed in Luton and we now have a large manufacturing facility there as well.”