The Army Is Launching A Pair Of Billion-Dollar Surveillance Blimps Over I-95

[xchrom]

http://www.businessinsider.com/army-launching-two-surveillance-blimps-next-week-2014-12


The Raytheon JLENS

Next week, residents in the Baltimore area will wake up to a major surprise: Two massive Army airships that will be visible from Interstate 95 for the next three years.

Tethered at the Army's Aberdeen Proving Ground 25 miles northeast of Baltimore, the airships will quickly become an uncomfortable fact of life for Americans living in the Northeast. The massive airships, each about three times the size of a Goodyear blimp, are the latest in aerial surveillance.

The blimps, built by Raytheon and known as JLENS — Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor Systems — will defend against possible cruise missile attacks and other potential threats to Washington, DC and other East Coast cities through the use of extremely high-detailed radar imaging.

The two blimps will function in concert. One of them will provide constant 360-degree scanning, covering a circular area from North Carolina to central Ohio to upstate New York even as the blimp remains stationary over suburban Baltimore. The other will focus on more specific targets. All together, JLENS will be able to track missiles, aircraft, and drones in a 340-mile radius.



Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/army-launching-two-surveillance-blimps-next-week-2014-12#ixzz3MEqDisSx

[MADem]

1. Just in the nick of time, I guess but maybe they should put 'em on the west coast....

http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/13/world/europe/russia-bombers-plan/

What this should do is reduce instances of small aircraft with dunce pilots overflying the White House or Congress and having everyone spill out of the buildings like extras in a Godzilla movie.

[951-Riverside]

2. Just a preview of what they might be capable of doing

[Savannahmann]

5. I saw that show, it was disturbing

But hey, who cares if we are all observed all the time. We have to do this or the Terrorists will win or something.

[stevenleser]

8. No, these are radar only blimps, no cameras or audio. Nt

[onethatcares]

3. I was just wondering

exactly how many attempted cruise missle attacks have there been against Washington D C and other east coast cities recently?

Have the North Carolinians revolted, or just those folks in upstate New York?

Will they show movies on their sides? Extremely high definition movies perhaps? Maybe light em up for Easter since it's too late for Christmas?

Is that guy working in his garage? Sheesh, with the largest military budget in the world you would think they'd employ more than one guy.

[RandiFan1290]

6. ...And the Argus is practiced compassion

With an eye on you, as one is on me
Will the god eye grant his forgiveness
And allow he that's lived, a reason to see

[UglyGreed]

7. Sorry for the duplicate thread

Carry on

[Orrex]

9. This will go over like a led...

Wait. What?