The US government will deploy one of its JLENS missile defence systems over Washington DC “by the end of the year”, its manufacturer Raytheon reveals.
David Gulla, vice-president of Global Integrated Sensors, says that one of the two aerostat-based systems that have been developed is in the process of being delivered to the capital at the moment so that is can be used “in support of homeland defence”.
Raytheon
Gulla declines to reveal where JLENS - which stands for joint land attack cruise missile defense elevated netted sensor - is being delivered from, but stresses it will be deployed by the end of 2014.
The other system has entered “strategic reserve” until the government requires it, and Raytheon says would be able to be rapidly deployed – domestically or internationally – should it be required.
“We’re very excited about what this can do,” Gulla says.
Each system constitutes one orbit - which includes two sensors - one for surveillance and one for fire control.
Raytheon says that JLENS provides 360deg of defensive radar coverage and can detect and track objects like missiles and aircraft from some 340 miles away and can remain airborne for up to 30 days at a time.
Source: Flight Daily News
