Jay Clemens
The U.S. Army has certified soldiers to operate the Raytheon-built JLENS radar blimp in their mission to defend the Washington metropolitan region against missile and unmanned aerial vehicle threats.
Raytheon also trained the Army’s A Battery, 3rd Air Defense Artillery on how to use JLENS’ hydraulic winch system and maintain the radar, the company said Thursday.
“With this certification, the soldiers now possess the skills to maximize the capabilities of JLENS to help defend our country from the growing cruise missile and drone threat,” said Dave Gulla, vice president of Raytheon’s global integrated sensors business area.
JLENS is a two-aerostat system filled with helium gas to carry radars and works to detect and monitor cruise missiles, drones and airplanes.
A Raytheon team worked with U.S. Northern Command to develop the tactics, techniques and procedures that served as the standards forthe certification.
