Raytheon has delivered two electronic communication jamming pods for the US Army to fit aboard its MQ-1C Gray Eagle UAS (Unmanned Aircraft System) in support of the Networked Electronic Warfare, Remotely Operated (NERO) system.
The NERO system was developed as a result of the Army's Communications Electronic Attack with Surveillance and Reconnaissance (CEASAR) programme, and three payloads were delivered as part of a contract awarded by the US Navy NAVSEA Crane in 2012.
NERO uses the same technology as the original CEASAR system, which was mounted on a manned C-12 aircraft, but by using the Gray Eagle, mission times can be two or three times longer. It also offers reduced operating costs and less risk to pilots.
"NERO provides critical jamming capabilities to warfighters in counterinsurgency environments," said Glen Bassett, director of Advanced Communications and Countermeasures for Raytheon's Space and Airborne Systems business.
"We leveraged our combat-proven success from the manned CEASAR program to deliver this key tactical electronic attack capability onto an unmanned application."
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