Leidos and L3Harris partner on US Army ISR aircraft for ATHENA-S
L3Harris currently operates a Bombardier Global series jet as part of the US Army’s ARES programme. (Photo: L3Harris)
Leidos and L3Harris Technologies announced on 26 July they are teaming up for the US Army’s Theater Level High-Altitude Expeditionary Next Airborne – Signals Intelligence (ATHENA-S) proposal.
The companies will seek to deliver two ISR aircraft in support of the programme.
The team will work to modify two Bombardier Global 6500 jets with radar, electronic and communications intelligence capabilities tailored to ATHENA-S requirements, the partners said.
The aircraft are intended to support US Army missions in the US European Command area of responsibility and are designed to close the gap between the army’s medium- and high-altitude ISR aircraft fleet.
Related Articles
Sweden orders two GlobalEye AEW&C aircraft
Leidos Australia to acquire Cobham’s Special Mission aircraft unit
L3Harris, Amazon team up to advance battlespace networking
ATHENA-S will fly at higher operating altitudes, provide increased range, greater endurance, more capacity for larger payloads and greater standoff ranges, along with next-generation sensor technology.
Leidos currently operates two Leidos Special Mission Aircraft (LSMA) for the US Army’s Airborne Reconnaissance Targeting and Exploitation Multi-Mission Intelligence System (ARTEMIS) programme in support of EUCOM.
The LSMA provides deep-sensing ELINT to enable threat analysis and delivery of long-range precision fires.
L3Harris currently operates a Bombardier Global series jet as part of the army’s Airborne Reconnaissance and Electronic Warfare System (ARES) programme, supporting US Indo-Pacific Command.
In addition to ARES, L3Harris is also working on Phase 2 of the US Army’s Multi-Domain Sensing System programme to develop, build, integrate and demonstrate prototype electronic and communications intelligence sensors for the High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES) programme.
More from Air Warfare
-
![Brazil moves ahead with second-hand Black Hawk deal]()
Brazil moves ahead with second-hand Black Hawk deal
Brazil will replace its HM-3 Cougar and HM-2 Black Hawk helicopters with the second-hand UH-60s.
-
![Long-range radar handed over to US Missile Defence Agency]()
Long-range radar handed over to US Missile Defence Agency
Lockheed Martin delivered 10 antenna panels for its Long Range Discrimination Radar (LRDR) to Clear, Alaska in 2020. The system will be used by the Missile Defence Agency (MDA) as part of its layered defence strategy against ballistic missiles.
-
![Brunei orders six H145M helicopters following UK’s lead]()
Brunei orders six H145M helicopters following UK’s lead
The news Airbus H145M medium helicopters will replace the Royal Brunei Air Force’s BO105 fleet.
-
![Portugal wants F-35s, but has no firm plans in place]()
Portugal wants F-35s, but has no firm plans in place
The Portuguese Air Force’s leader has outlined the importance of embracing the F-35 to maintain the country's air capabilities despite the absence of a formal procurement plan for the latest Lockheed Martin fighter.
