JORN team reach Phase 6 milestone

Congratulations to our Jindalee Operational Radar Network (JORN) team on its significant progress with the delivery of Phase 6 upgrades as installation commences at the first radar site in remote outback Australia. 

The newly developed JORN hardware is designed for ease of manufacturing and is exceeding performance expectations. This hardware enters pre-production ahead of site trials in mid-2022. 

The team recently replaced 500kg of electronics, power supplies, brackets and supports and installed prototype Phase 6 kit – the first time this new upgraded equipment has been installed and operable at a JORN radar site.  

Delivery of Phase 6 will involve more than $250 million of engineering design, development and validation effort. 

 “The success of this installation is clear evidence of the hard work undertaken by our Surveillance team in our Hardware Integration Facility to deliver this world-leading capability,” said Richard, BAESA’s JORN Program Director.

Gordon, an Over-The-Horizon-Radar (OTHR) advisor to BAE Systems Australia, said the recent installation was the first use of the world's most advanced and high-performance High Frequency receiver and he was impressed by the quality of data it was producing.

“This is also the first demonstration of a Common Aperture capable receiver on the JORN antenna system, a critical step for Phase 6,” said Gordon, Director of FrazerLab.

“I have been methodically working through the new Phase 6 equipment in the Hardware Integration Facility. I see performance levels in key areas beyond any previous OTHR.”