lighter-than-air vehicles - Defense Innovation Marketplace

Joint Land Attach Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor System(JLENS)Vehicle Class: AerostatMission Set: ISROrganization: Army lead, Joint InterestPrimary Contractors: RaytheonProgram Start: 2005Technology Readiness Level (TRL): 7Table 6: JLENS Program OverviewFigure 13: JLENS in Moored Configuration 20The objective of the JLENS is to providepersistent surveillance and trackingcapability for unmanned aerial vehicle andcruise missile defense to the current andprojected defense forces. JLENS usesadvanced sensor and networkingtechnologies to provide 360-degree, wideareasurveillance (WAS) and precisiontarget tracking. This JLENS information isdistributed via Joint service networks andcontributes to the development of a single,integrated air picture. JLENS will providefire control quality data to surface-to-airmissile systems, such as Army Patriot andNavy Aegis, increasing the weapons’capabilities by allowing these systems toengage targets normally below, outside orbeyond surface-based weapons’ field ofview. Additionally, JLENS provides this firecontrol quality data to fighter aircraft,allowing them to engage hostile threats fromextended ranges. JLENS also detects andtracks surface moving targets and providesthis data on multiple networks. JLENSprovides launch point estimate for tacticalballistic missiles and large caliber rockets. 21A JLENS Orbit consists of two systems: afire control radar system and a WAS radarsystem. Each radar system employs aseparate 74-meter tethered aerostat, mobilemooring station, radar and communicationspayload, processing station, and associatedground support equipment. A JLENS batteryconsists of 128 personnel for operation ofone orbit based on current Table of OrganizationalEquipment (TOE). There are twotemporary test sites at Utah Test TrainingRange (UTTR) and one temporary test siteat White Sands Missile Range (WSMR).Raytheon is the primary contractor workingwith the DoD to provide two Engineeringand Manufacturing Development (EMD)orbits (1 orbit consists of 2 aerostats—onefor fire control, and one for WAS). 21The JLENS Operational RequirementsDocument (ORD) calls for initial fielding toBlock I requirements (tethered aerostatplatforms for Fire Control and Surveillanceradars), followed by fielding of Block II(untethered platforms for Fire Control andSurveillance radars) and Block III (bothradars on a single untethered platform).18