Monica Jackson
Raytheon plans to demonstrate a deployable version of its approach and landing guidance system at two of the U.S. Air Force’s F-35 operation facilities in 2019, Military.com reported Wednesday.
The company aims to show the U.S. Air Force the ability of the Joint Precision Approach and Landings System to guide pilots in landing in austere environments and bad weather conditions.
Brooks Cleveland, senior aviation advisor for precision landing systems at Raytheon, explained that the deployable JPALS will help simplify landings and protect pilots as they return from their missions.
Retired Air Force Col. JW Watkins, business development manager in the Dallas/Fort Worth region for Raytheon, also noted that the expeditionary version of the landing system will possibly support Air Force groups deployed all over the world in various concepts of operations.
He added that JPALS will allow commanders to discreetly request for a contingency response group to establish a base that includes advance troops, air traffic controllers and necessary equipment.
The defense firm delivered JPALS to the U.S. Navy in the first half of 2018 to guide F-35B Lightning II planes onto the deck of the USS Wasp in extreme weather and surface conditions.
