Raytheon to develop precision aircraft landing system

Engineers at the Raytheon Co. in Lexington, Mass., are developing the Joint Precision Approach and Landing System (JPALS) under terms of a $5.8 million U.S. Air Force contract. JPALS is the future multi-service, low-visibility landing system for fixed-base, tactical, and shipboard applications. JPALS is a military variant of the Local Area Augmentation System civil landing system technology . Military and civil versions of this technology augment the basic Global Positioning System signal for precise landing guidance in a format already familiar to pilots. Raytheon experts will develop the systems architecture, validate standards, and build and test prototype ground and avionics systems. Leading the work is Raytheon Systems Company`s Integrated Systems Division ATC group in Salt Lake City. Raytheon facilities in El Segundo and Fullerton, Calif., Marlboro, Mass., and Harlow, United Kingdom, are participating. — J.K.