Team commemorating improved Joint Tactical Ground Station (JTAGS) installation in Japan. Credit: © 2018 Northrop Grumman Corporation.

The US Army, in collaboration with Northrop Grumman, has installed enhanced Joint Tactical Ground Station (JTAGS) capabilities in Japan to improve battle-space awareness and early missile warning system.

The current project is part of the pre-planned product improvement programme awarded to the US aerospace and defence technology company for the upgrade and modernisation of JTAGS.

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As part of the upgrade, the company modified the JTAGS hardware, software and communication systems, while carrying out enhancements on the soldier-machine interfaces and for cyber protection.

Northrop Grumman Missile Defense and Protective Systems vice-president and general manager Dan Verwiel said: “JTAGS is perpetually ‘on duty’ and ‘first to see, first to report’ on ballistic missile launches.

"Our continuing collaboration with the army has enabled even greater capabilities to protect our joint warfighters and allies."

“Our continuing collaboration with the army has enabled even greater capabilities to protect our joint warfighters and allies.”

In 1997, Northrop Grumman deployed the JTAGS system for the first time in order to provide the US Army with in-theatre missile warning using data directly obtained from satellite sensors.

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JTAGS receives and processes information directly down-linked from the Defense Support Program and other infrared satellite sensors.
Using multiple communications networks, the system then distributes near-real-time warning, alerting and cueing data on ballistic missile launches and other tactical events of interest throughout the theatre.

Since 1994, Northrop Grumman has served as the JTAGS prime contractor under the direction of the Army Space and Missile Defense Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama.

The company has been responsible for developing, fielding, maintaining and improving the JTAGS system across the globe.

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