Eyes and ears in the sky: US Army Airborne Reconnaissance Low recapitalisation

摘要

The US Army has employed a range of airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) systems during its operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere, and despite now operating at a reduced tempo the service is committed to maintaining a number of assets as well as bringing into service new and enhanced platforms. Among its ISR aircraft, the Airborne Reconnaissance Low (ARL) capability has proven its worth and the army will improve this with the introduction of a successor system, the ARL Enhanced (ARL-E). The service's roadmap for the recapitalisation of the ARL capability, outlined in an April 2013 report on manned ISR platforms, envisages the introduction of a range of improved sensors into a new airframe.