L3Harris Enhances Military Surveillance with Next-Gen Aerial Solutions

After a long and storied career spanning five decades, the Army’s primary ISR platform is hanging up its spurs and heading out to pasture. The RC-12X is running out of parts and running out of time, but after two decades of constant use in the harshest environments on earth, and another thirty years of steady use, the Army set its eyes on a replacement: the L3Harris joint project dubbed High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES). 

Make sure to check out our initial write-up on HADES from last January.  

But there have been some hiccoughs along the way that are holding up forward progress, but it appears that the project is getting back on track as we speak. Here’s an update on the progress and where the program looks to be headed going into 2025. 

The Protest and Hold

An electronic warfare system is one of the most coveted and valuable tools on the battlefield for intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance operations. Up until recently there has been a serious capability gap between what combatant commanders need and what the Army’s aerial ISR platform (which is basically solely the RC-12X).

The road to get a new platform fielded has been a difficult one, though. The initial proposal, and the one which looks to get back on track, was to deploy commercial off the shelf business jets for the role. 

The main aerial ISR use that the Army has needed for decades are deep sensing solutions. High accuracy detection is a feature for Army fires that has been sorely lacking for a long while, since the RC-12 usually flies around FL250-FL300. While that works for some mission profiles, adding an additional 15,000-20,000 feet to the sortie altitude provides a much better overall perspective for the detection and exploitation system operations. 

Unfortunately, there have been roadblocks along the way to getting the HADES aircraft fielded as the Army’s airborne reconnaissance replacement. The U.S. Army has used the same aircraft since the cold war, so the Army ISR fleet is long overdue.

However, the program was briefly on hold as L3Harris filed a protest in September, but the Government Accountability Office denied the hold as of December 23rd so it is all systems go for the HADES aerial military intelligence jets to enter production. 

Advanced Aerial Intelligence

There has been a significant gap over the years in what the Army’s fires technology can achieve and what their high accuracy detection and electronic warfare system fleet can accomplish. The proven Challenger 650 was selected from Bombardier Defense for the ISR task force and airborne reconnaissance missions. 

L3Harris Technologies is developing advanced aerial intelligence solutions to support joint force commanders in their mission to gather timely and accurate intelligence.

The company’s expertise in airborne reconnaissance and surveillance systems enables the delivery of high-quality aerial intelligence to support military operations. L3Harris’s aerial intelligence solutions are designed to provide deep sensing capabilities, overcoming physical challenges faced by traditional airborne ISR aircraft. The Challenger 650 offers the US Army a solution for future multi-domain operations using one of the most common business jets on the market. 

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The HADES platform fits into the service plans and will replace the old fleet of ISR aircraft over the next few years. 

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The company’s systems are equipped with advanced sensors and communication systems to provide real-time intelligence to military commanders. L3Harris’s aerial intelligence solutions are designed to support the US Army’s HADES program, providing high accuracy detection and exploitation capabilities.

Exploitation System Capabilities

The aircraft of an ISR fleet are built to enhance our overall reconnaissance demands of the US Army intelligence. They needed an aircraft that can fly higher and fly faster, and also loiter longer.

L3Harris’s exploitation system capabilities enable the rapid collection and analysis of intelligence data from various sources. The company’s systems are designed to provide real-time intelligence to support military operations, enabling joint force commanders to make informed decisions.

L3Harris’s exploitation system capabilities include advanced signal processing and data analytics to support the detection and exploitation of enemy communications. The company’s systems are designed to support the integration of multiple sensors and systems, providing a comprehensive view of the battlefield.

L3Harris’s exploitation system capabilities are designed to support the US Army’s HADES program, providing advanced detection and exploitation capabilities. 

Partnership and Collaboration

L3Harris is committed to partnership and collaboration with government agencies, military organizations, and industry partners to support the development of advanced aerial surveillance solutions.

This is a multi-corporation effort that includes the Sierra Nevada Corporation, MAG Aerospace, and L3Harris. 

Bombardier Defense Delivers

This project was a joint collaboration with several key partners in the process. Bombardier Defense provides the raw aircraft which include Global 6500s, Challenger 650s, and Global 6000 aircraft. 

Specifically, here is the makeup of the new ISR fleet:

  • A contract for ISR-as-a-service was awarded to the Sierra Nevada Corporation for the High Altitude Expeditionary Next ISR-Sensor (Athena-S), featuring two modified Global 6500 aircraft.
  • Two additional Global 6500s modified by MAG Aerospace and L3Harris under the Athena-Radar program.
  • A Leidos-owned Bombardier Challenger 650, known as the Airborne Reconnaissance and Targeting Exploitation Multi-Mission Intelligence System (ARTEMIS).
  • The L3Harris Airborne Reconnaissance and Electronic Warfare System (ARES), utilizing a Bombardier Global 6000.

This is a multi-tiered approach to ISR using a unique makeup where the aircraft are operated by uniformed service-members, while the maintenance and support is all handled by the prime contractor. 

The US Army intelligence leadership understood that replacing the RC-12 Guardrail was not a one-size-fits-all procurement project. Instead, four distinctly different platforms were drafted up. Each of these aircraft adds a distinctly different element to the deep sensing but great increasing altitude capabilities. The new HADES platform jets are the spy plane options that the Army needs. 

What we are facing in the new decade ahead will probably be near peer conflicts against advanced adversaries who are at the very least on par technologically with the United States, and may be beyond us in some instances. The HADES fleet of jets, while small in number, represents a set of aircraft that are purpose-built to operate in multi domain operations. 

The Guardrail was mostly adequate against the archaic tactics and equipment used in OEF/OIF, but those days are behind us now and the National Security strategy is not focused on the threats of violent extremist nations. Instead, the focus has shifted to near peer adversaries (primarily Russia and China). 

The Air Force has some deep sensing assets, but they are not suited for the Army missions which largely use ISR aircraft for fires control and sensing farther into areas of specific interest. The high altitudes that the HADES aircraft operate at allow combatant commanders to sense farther and with more persistence than previous aircraft. 

Obviously there is a heightened level of risk in putting aircraft that are substantially slower and operate at half the altitude into these areas. All of the Bombardier aircraft provide a much safer platform because they are faster and fly much higher. If they have persisted or pushed too far, they have a much higher capability to remove themselves from the situation they are in than a C-12 derivative.  

L3Harris’s collaboration with the US Army’s ISR Task Force enables advanced aerial surveillance solutions For the HADES program.

The company’s partnerships with government agencies and industry partners enable the delivery of advanced aerial surveillance solutions to support military operations. L3Harris’s commitment to partnership and collaboration enables the company to provide advanced aerial surveillance solutions to support joint force commanders.

What Role Does Greenwood Aerospace Play?

Much like the RC-12 and C-12 which we have provided sustainment services for many years, we anticipate our services being made available to the Army to procure parts and service and other sustainment activities for the HADES jets. 

Until those aircraft are fielded, we will continue to support the C-12 Huron and RC-12 Guardrail aircraft with sustainment contracts, along with parts and services. Make sure to check out our sustainment page for all services pertaining to the Huron and the Guardrail.