The United States Army, together with defense company L3Harris, announced its first flight of the Airborne Reconnaissance and Electronic Warfare System (ARES) aircraft, a new system that will improve the service’s intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.
The ARES utilizes the High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System, a new platform that improves an aircraft’s electronic range and capability.
With its high-altitude capability, the ARES aircraft is able to overcome the challenges of flying near borders or challenging areas, unlinking low-flight and low-range sensor systems.
L3Harris President of Aviation Services Luke Savoie expressed his belief that ARES will help the military “rapidly expand its ISR capabilities,” noting that the production of ARES was done in only a short span of time.
“Our design, fabrication, and integration team turned a green airframe into an initial single sensor capable platform with new sensing technology in six months,” Savoie explained.
ARES Specifications
ARES can fly at an altitude of 40,000 feet (12,192 m) for up to 14 hours. If faced with a threat, the ARES is able to utilize its Long Range Precision Fires to counterattack.
ARES features a Bombardier Global 6000/6500-class business jet capable of carrying a payload of up to 14,000 lbs (6,350 kgs).
