The US Army's joint land attack cruise missile defense elevated sensor (JLENS) system demonstrated its first flight at an altitude of 3,000ft over North Carolina state.
The JLENS is an aerostat platform that provides long-duration, wide-area, over-the-horizon detection to track low-altitude cruise missiles.
The platform provides battlefield commanders with enhanced situational awareness and elevated communications, enabling sufficient warning to engage air defence systems and defeat threats.
Lieutenant Colonel of the US Army, Steve Wilhelm said that JLNES makes the current weapons more effective.
"Missiles that were once limited by their organic radars can now meet their full kinematic potential because of the extended ranges provided by JLENS radars," Wilhelm said.
JLENS uses two advanced elevated sensor systems to support surface-to-air missile systems in performing over-the-horizon intercepts of land attack cruise missiles and detection and tracking of large-calibre rockets, surface-moving targets and theatre ballistic missiles in the ascent phase.
