GUARDRAIL has been in service since 1975, providing indications and warnings to United States Forces Korea during crises on the peninsula. The first version of the GUARDRAIL Common Sensor (GRCS) entered service in 1988 under the 3rd Military Intelligence Battalion to monitor the Demilitarized Zone.
“[GUARDRAIL] is our longest serving U.S. Army ISR asset in the [Korean Theater of Operations], and our only true [program of record] aircraft,” said Lt. Col. Derrick J. Zantt, commander of the 3rd MI Battalion. The system eventually became standard across six aerial military intelligence battalions, with each iteration employing cutting-edge technology at its introduction.
ARL emerged in the 1990s as U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM) developed aircraft to meet counterdrug priorities in South America. Initially a quick reaction capability, ARL expanded to meet multi-intelligence requirements and remained in service after the retirement of the OV-1D Mohawks.
“JSTARS couldn’t do it. The Air Force U-2 couldn’t do it. Even satellites couldn’t do it,” said Dr. Thomas Hauser, U.S. Army Intelligence and Security (INSCOM) historian. “INSCOM came through at the last minute with a solution: the versatile ARL. Their ever-watchful eyes stayed open all these years. It was always on the flightline or in the air, ready to serve the Army.”
Across their combined service, GUARDRAIL and ARL completed more than 120,000 flight hours and over 30,000 sorties, supported by more than 800 military pilots from the 3rd MI Battalion. The Army is now transitioning to new platforms, beginning with ATHENA, which serves as a bridge to future ISR capabilities.
“Through the end of [its] life, the aircraft continued [its] operational collection mission until the last day and were able to effect a seamless handoff to the ATHENA program, which is serving as our bridge,” said Col. Brian Tinklepaugh, 501st MI Brigade-Theater commander. ATHENA consolidates multiple intelligence disciplines into a single platform to improve target definition for operational commanders.
“These bridge aircraft will continue to inform HADES programmatic requirements, facilitate early implementation of new training concepts and fielding strategies, and ultimately ensure ‘No Cold Starts’ for the HADES program,” said Jordan Rubin, chief, INSCOM G3 ISR Operations. The High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES) will employ artificial intelligence and machine learning to accelerate data processing and enhance battlefield decision-making.
HADES will provide commanders with greater depth of vision and decision speed, ensuring superiority in multi-domain operations. “As we move forward to the Army’s aerial future with HADES, I’m incredibly proud of not just the [legacy] aircraft, but the men and women who have flown the aircraft, maintained the aircraft, and who have provided that intelligence watch over more than five decades,” said Tinklepaugh.
