JLE

10 Jun 2009: Defence Industry Daily carried a good article on the proliferation of cruise missile technology has elevated the probability of a ballistic missiles attack on U.S. cities. Any capability to detect incoming missiles over the horizon would require the detection mechanism to be on an airbourne platform, but putting this on jets flying around the clock would be too expensive, so a system called JLENS is gaining popularity.

FAS: The Joint Land-Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor System (JLENS) consists of an aerostat with radars to provide over-the-horizon surveillance for defense against cruise missiles. JLENS is primarily intended to tackle the growing threat of cruise missiles to US forces deployed abroad. The system enhances cruise missile detection and engagement ranges with current air defense weapons such as PATRIOT, Navy SM-2 missile, the Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile, and ultimately the Medium Extended Air Defense System and the Corps Surface-to-Air Missile System. JLENS will operate at altitudes between 10,000 and 15,000 feet; be capable of detecting long range, terrain masked targets; and provide an effective fire control solution for joint theater air and missile defense weapon systems. Additionally, it can operate from sites on both land or sea, and is tactically relocatable.