U.S. Army Places Blimp-Borne Radar in Strategic Readiness

摘要

Should the U.S. or its allies need enhanced protection against cruise missiles, hostile airplanes, sea-borne threats or unmanned aircraft, military commanders will have a new system at their disposal. Previously used for testing, Raytheon Co. has finished preparing a blimp-borne radar system that will be used as a rapidly deployable strategic asset. JLENS is a powerful airborne radar system that floats at altitudes as high as 10,000 feet, suspended from two 80-yard long, helium-filled blimp-like aerostats that are tethered to ground stations via a rugged cable. It helps defend critical assets, population centers and infrastructures against a variety of threats, such as manned and unmanned aircraft and missiles.