JLENS demonstrates waterway protection capabilities
Raytheon has announced that it carried out a number of tests in June on its Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defence Elevated Netted Sensor System (JLENS)to demonstrate the system’s ability to detect and track swarming boats in waterways from hundreds of miles away. As a result, the US Army will ‘soon have a system that enables [it] to protect sailors and safeguard commercial and military navigation in strategic waterways’.
During the tests, JLENS simultaneously detected and tracked multiple speedboats on the Great Salt Lake. The boats, similar to swarming boats in the inventories of hostile navies in high-threat regions, simulated a real-world scenario with a series of tactical manoeuvres at low and high speeds.
JLENS is an elevated, persistent over-the-horizon sensor system. It uses an 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 - and provides ascent phase detection of tactical ballistic missiles and large calibre rockets.
David Gulla, vice president of Global Integrated Sensors for Raytheon's Integrated Defense Systems business, commented on the results of the demonstrations, saying: ‘JLENS is affordable because during a 30-day period, one system provides the warfighter the same around-the-clock coverage that it would normally take four or five fixed-wing surveillance aircraft to provide. JLENS is significantly less expensive to operate than a fixed-wing surveillance aircraft because it takes less than half the manpower to operate and has a negligible maintenance and fuel cost.’
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
![IAI's BlueWhale uncrewed submarine to join NATO’s Dynamic Messenger exercise]()
IAI's BlueWhale uncrewed submarine to join NATO’s Dynamic Messenger exercise
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) announces that its autonomous BlueWhale uncrewed submarine will participate in the NATO Dynamic Messenger exercise, in an effort to demonstrate its capabilities in the maritime sector.
-
![NATO uncrewed maritime exercise under way off the coast of Portugal]()
NATO uncrewed maritime exercise under way off the coast of Portugal
Twenty-five navies, eight NATO entities and more than thirty companies and universities are currently involved in Robotic Experimentation Prototyping Augmented by Maritime Unmanned Systems Exercise 2023 (REPMUS 23), held off the coast of Portugal until 29 September.
-
![DSEI 2023: SpearUAV rolls out drone launcher system for submarines]()
DSEI 2023: SpearUAV rolls out drone launcher system for submarines
Israeli UAS developer SpearUAV introduced a submarine-launched capsule option for its Viper 750 UAV at DSEI 2023.
-
![Ukraine shows combat-tested armament at DSEI 2023]()
Ukraine shows combat-tested armament at DSEI 2023
The Ukrainian pavilion at DSEI 2023, organised by state-owned Spetstechnoexport, exhibited several indigenous combat-tested systems, including UAVs, USVs and an evacuation vehicle.
-
![DSEI: Milrem displays new versions of THeMIS and reveals plans for larger UGV]()
DSEI: Milrem displays new versions of THeMIS and reveals plans for larger UGV
Milrem Robotics has now supplied more than 100 of its Tracked Hybrid Modular Infantry System (THeMIS) hybrid UGVs including approximately 15 for service in Ukraine. Lessons learned are continuing to inform the platform’s development, according to the company.
-
![Leonardo and UK MoD unveil rotary-wing UAS at DSEI 2023]()
Leonardo and UK MoD unveil rotary-wing UAS at DSEI 2023
The design selected for the Rotary Wing Uncrewed Autonomous System is best suited for maritime operations.
