January 15, 2006: One of the most powerful and versatile
air-defense radars in the world is the Australian JORN (Jindalee
Operational Radar Network) system. Australian scientists and engineers
designed and built this unique, over the horizon, system using the
technique of bouncing radar signals off the ionosphere. This gives the
radar a range of over 3,000 kilometers.
Development
began in the early 1990s. Costing over a billion dollars to build, it
became operational in 2002. The key to the system is software that
enables a weak return signal to be accurately identified. Thus, even
stealth aircraft can be spotted by JRON. Many of the systems
capabilities are kept secret, but the United States has been working
with Australia to integrate JORN into a world-wide anti-ballistic
missile defense system. Currently, JORN provides plenty of warning if
hostile aircraft should approach Australia.
The
system was designed to provide coverage for Australia?s northern coast,
which is largely uninhabited, but also vulnerable to smugglers, illegal
migrants, or armed invaders. JORN can be reconfigured to search for
ships as well, and has been used in this way to spot ships trying to
bring in illegal migrants. JORN is operated by the Australian Air
Force.
