ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md.,
Sept. 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/
-- Mission ready. That was the verdict for the U.S. Army's A
Battery, 3rd Air Defense Artillery, who were recently certified to
operate Raytheon Company's (NYSE: RTN) JLENS radar to protect the
National Capital Region (NCR) from cruise missiles and drone
threats.
JLENS is a system of two aerostats, or tethered blimps, that
float 10,000 feet in the air. The helium filled aerostats, each
nearly as long as a football field, carry powerful radars that can
protect a territory roughly the size of Texas from airborne threats. JLENS provides
360-degrees of defensive radar coverage and can detect and track
objects like cruise missiles, drones and airplanes from up to 340
miles away.
"When JLENS deploys to Aberdeen
Proving Ground, Md., later this year, it will provide a
powerful new capability to the National Capital Region's Integrated
Air Defense System (IADS)," said Raytheon's Dave Gulla, vice president of Integrated Defense
Systems' Global Integrated Sensors business area. "With this
certification, the soldiers now possess the skills to maximize the
capabilities of JLENS to help defend our country from the growing
cruise missile and drone threat."
Raytheon employees worked with U.S. NORTHCOM and the soldiers to
develop the tactics, techniques and procedures for using JLENS as
part of the NCR's IADS. Raytheon also helped prepare the soldiers
for the Army's independent certification process by training them
on a variety of key tasks, including:
- Using JLENS' hydraulic winch system to raise and lower the
aerostat
- Radar operations
- Equipment maintenance
- Initiating communication links in order to communicate critical
information to higher echelons
- Emergency procedures
About JLENS
JLENS consists of an integrated radar system on two tethered,
80-yard aerostats, which fly at altitudes of 10,000 feet above sea
level and remain aloft and operational for 30 days. This capability
better enables commanders to defend against threats including
cruise missiles, drones and aircraft. JLENS also provides ascent
phase detection of tactical ballistic missiles and large-caliber
rockets.
- JLENS completed developmental testing in December 2013.
- JLENS has demonstrated its ability to integrate with defensive
systems and help Patriot, AMRAAM, NASAMS and Standard Missile 6
intercept cruise missile targets.
- JLENS proved it can detect and track short-range ballistic
missiles in their boost phase during a series of tests in
2013.
About Raytheon
Raytheon Company, with 2013 sales of
$24
billion and 63,000 employees worldwide, is a
technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, security
and civil markets throughout the world. With a history of
innovation spanning 92 years, Raytheon provides
state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other
capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command,
control, communications and intelligence systems, as well
as cyber security and a broad range of mission support
services. Raytheon is headquartered in Waltham, Mass. For more about Raytheon, visit
us at www.raytheon.com and follow us on Twitter
@Raytheon
Note to Editors
The certification took place at Dugway
Proving Ground, Utah.
Media Contact
Mike
Nachshen
+1.520.269.5697
idspr@raytheon.com
SOURCE Raytheon Company