JLENS: Affordable Defense for Real World Threats

The threat is real. Swarming boats, anti-ship cruise missiles, mine laying ships, and unmanned aircraft – these are only some of the dangers the warfighter faces on the modern battlefield.

Now there is an affordable capability for the United States and its allies to: n Always “see” the threat rather than hoping for a nearby ship or plane to detect the threat.

n Have more time to detect and respond to an incoming cruise missile.

n Observe key sea lanes and border regions around the clock for Defense Elevated Netted Sensor System (JLENS) up to 30 days at a time.

n Track hundreds of airborne and surface moving threats in a Why is JLENS affordable? 360-degree field of view. Just one JLENS orbit can provide the same 24/7 coverage for a n Engage threats at the maximum range of defensive weapons. 30-day period that four to five fixed-wing surveillance aircraft That capability is called JLENS. And it is made by Raytheon (AWACS, JSTARS or E-2C) can provide. Company. n Depending on the kind of aircraft used, a fixed-wing Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor surveillance aircraft is 500–700 percent more expensive to System (JLENS) is an affordable elevated, persistent over-the- operate than a JLENS during that same time period be horizon sensor system that uses a powerful integrated radar system cause of manpower, maintenance and fuel costs. to detect, track and target a variety of threats. This capability better n A JLENS orbit uses less than 50 percent of the manpower it enables commanders to defend against threats including hostile requires to fly a fixed-wing aircraft (that’s not counting the cruise missiles, low-flying manned and unmanned aircraft, tactical ground-support personnel required to launch a sortie). ballistic missiles, large caliber rockets, and moving surface vehicles such as boats, SCUD-launchers, automobiles, and tanks.

What is JLENS? n A JLENS system, referred to as an orbit, consists of two tethered, 74-meter helium-filled aerostats connected to mobile mooring stations and a communications and processing groups. n Aerostats fly as high as 10,000 feet above sea level and can remain aloft and operational for up to 30 days. n One aerostat carries surveillance radar with 360-degree surveillance capability; the other aerostat carries fire control radar.

“Customer Success Is Our Mission” is a registered trademark of Raytheon Company. Copyright © 2013 Raytheon Company. 2/13 4313207 All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. Approved for Public Release Statement A, unlimited distribution AMCOM PA #343-2012 and 418-2012.