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Army deploying JLENS radar system to help protect Washington, D.C.

Aerostat-borne radars to help protect nation's capital.

By Richard Tomkins
Aerostats will carrying special radar to protect Washington, D.C., from missile and drone threats. (Department of Defense photo)
Aerostats will carrying special radar to protect Washington, D.C., from missile and drone threats. (Department of Defense photo)

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md., Sept. 19 (UPI) -- A Battery, 3rd Air Defense Artillery, will operate the system from Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland, close to the nation's capital.

JLENS stands for Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor, which is comprised of two aerostats, or tethered blimps, operating at an altitude of 10,000 feet. Each carry integrated radars that can protect a territory roughly the size of Texas from airborne threats.

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JLENS provides 360-degrees of radar coverage and can detect and track cruise missiles, drones and aircraft up to 340 miles distant. It has proven capable of integrating with defensive systems and helping Patriot, AMRAAM, NASAMS and Standard Missile 6 weapons intercept cruise missiles.

Raytheon said its personnel worked with U.S. Northern Command and the soldiers to develop tactics, techniques and procedures for using JLENS as part of the National Capital Region's defense system.

"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," said Dave Gulla, Raytheon 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."

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