JLENS demonstrates tracking capabilities

The JLENS elevated, persistent over-the-horizon sensor system being developed by Raytheon has demonstrated its ability to simultaneously track swarming boats hundreds of cars and trucks, non-swarming boats and manned and unmanned aircraft. This latest test expands on the system’s previously tested tracking capabilities, and suggests that swarming boats operating in highly-trafficked strategic waterways will soon be easier to detect, target and engage.

JLENS 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, automobiles and trucks; and provide ascent phase detection of tactical ballistic missiles and large calibre rockets.

Raytheon said that during the most recent testing, the swarming boats, similar to swarming boats in the inventories of hostile navies in high-threat regions of the globe, simulated a real-world scenario with a series of tactical manoeuvres at low and high speeds. The aircraft and other vehicles JLENS tracked were similar to the other kinds of systems that might operate in the vicinity of busy vital waterways.

David Gulla, vice president of Global Integrated Sensors for Raytheon's Integrated Defense Systems business, said: ‘This test proved JLENS can help keep important chokepoints free from the growing threat of swarming boats by detecting them from hundreds of miles away in a congested environment, enabling commanders to take appropriate action. This success, which comes on the heels of a JLENS-enabled intercept of an anti-ship cruise missile, demonstrates that JLENS is ready to deploy for a combatant commander operational evaluation.’

Dean Barten, the US Army's JLENS program manager, added: ‘JLENS' 360-degree long-range surveillance capability expands the battlespace because JLENS can simultaneously detect and engage threats like swarming boats and anti-ship cruise missiles from up to 340 miles away.’