A massive military surveillance blimp worth $2.7 billion has broken loose from its tether and is aimlessly floating above Pennsylvania. It is being tracked by military fighter jets.
The blimp, which is a 243-foot long JLENS blimp, was first installed last year above the Maryland Aberdeen Proving Ground, with the goal being to keep the mid-Atlantic region under surveillance. It's capable of seeing a massive 340 miles in any given direction and is really there to detect any air attacks or missiles.
Unfortunately, the project has been a massive failure, having run over budget and taken a lot longer than expected to get up and running, according to a report in the LA Times. Not only that, but the overall use of the project is still a little vague.
Because the blimp doesn't have any onboard navigational features, it's not clear exactly how long it can stay floating in the air. The blimps, described by Raytheon as large, helium-filled balloons, host radar systems that can spot moving pieces of machinery, such as drones, airplanes, cars or boats.
What's interesting is the fact that on the JLENS (Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor System) questions page, Raytheon, the company behind the blimp, discussed the likelihood of the blimp's tethers breaking. The tether carries power up to the JLENS radar, and sends data down to a computer processor, Raytheon says.
"The chance of that happening is very small because the tether is made of Vectran and has withstood storms in excess of 100 knots. However, in the unlikely event it does happen, there are a number of procedures and systems in place which are designed to bring the aerostat down in a safe manner," says the FAQ.
Somewhat scarily, 6,700 feet of the tether are still attached to the blimp. Anyone who sees the blimp is advised to contact 911 immediately, and people should keep their distance from the blimp as the tether could do some damage.
Officials are tracking the blimp over Pennsylvania, where it apparently is causing some power outages in the Bloomsburg area where the tether has become entangled with power lines.
Via: Motherboard
