US Army, Navy Demonstrate JLENS' Ability to Defeat Anti-ship Cruise Missile
Multiple Raytheon systems integrated to successfully protect ships
WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, N.M., Sept. 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- A recent U.S. Army and Navy test proved the Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) JLENS can integrate with defensive systems currently in the U.S. Navy's inventory to provide, for the first time, overland cruise missile defense from the sea.
During the test, a JLENS' fire-control radar acquired and tracked a surrogate anti-ship cruise missile target. The track information was passed to sailors via the Raytheon-made Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC) sensor-netting system. The sailors then fired a Raytheon-made Standard Missile-6 at the target. Initial SM-6 guidance used targeting information provided by the JLENS via CEC to the Aegis Weapon System (AWS) until the SM-6's onboard radar was able to acquire and track the target.
"JLENS has demonstrated its ability to integrate with other components of Naval Integrated Fire Control-Counter Air, significantly expanding the force's cruise missile defense umbrella," said Dean Barten, the U.S. Army's JLENS product manager. "Commanders can detect threats shortly after they are launched with JLENS' 360-degree, long-range surveillance capability, while the JLENS integrated fire-control radar enables commanders to more effectively employ weapons like the Standard Missile 6."
"JLENS is a proven asset that, when deployed, will protect U.S. and coalition lives," said Dave Gulla, vice president of Global Integrated Sensors in Raytheon's Integrated Defense Systems business. "JLENS' long-range surveillance capability extends the battlespace and gives commanders more time to identify and respond to incoming threats, instead of the handful of seconds they have today."
About JLENS
JLENS is an elevated, persistent over-the-horizon sensor system. It uses a powerful integrated radar system to detect, track and target a variety of threats. This capability better enables commanders to defend against threats, including hostile cruise missiles, low-flying manned and unmanned aircraft, and moving surface vehicles such as boats, SCUD launchers, automobiles, trucks and tanks. JLENS also provides ascent phase detection of tactical ballistic missiles and large-caliber rockets.
- A JLENS system, referred to as an orbit, consists of two tethered, 74-meter aerostats connected to mobile mooring stations and communications and processing groups.
- The aerostats fly as high as 10,000 feet and can remain aloft and operational for up to 30 days.
- One aerostat carries a surveillance radar, while the other carries a fire control radar.
About the CEC
Cooperative Engagement Capability is designed to enhance the Anti-Air Warfare (AAW) warfighting capability of ships and aircraft by the netting of battleforce sensors to provide a single, distributed AAW defense capability. As a key pillar of the Naval Integrated Fire Control-Counter Air (NIFC-CA) capability, CEC enables Integrated Fire Control to counter increasingly capable and less detectable cruise missiles and manned aircraft, and in the future, tactical ballistic missiles in a joint environment.
About the SM-6
SM-6 leverages legacy Standard Missile airframe and propulsion elements, while incorporating the advanced signal processing and guidance control capabilities of Raytheon's Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile. SM-6 is capable of over-the-horizon air defense and takes full advantage of the kinematics available to the Standard Missile family, allowing the use of both active and semiactive modes and advanced fuzing techniques.
About Raytheon
Raytheon Company, with 2011 sales of $25 billion and 71,000 employees worldwide, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 90 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 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.
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SOURCE Raytheon Company
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