By Ian Duncan The Baltimore Sun
The balloon — technically an aerostat because it's tethered to the ground — is expected to launch Saturday. It's one of a pair planned for the skies over Maryland to test sensors that can detect and train fire on cruise missiles from hundreds of miles away.
The Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor System — or JLENS — uses sophisticated radar to stare out 340 miles in every direction in search of cruise missiles and other airborne threats.
The balloons work in pairs: One looks for potential threats; the other helps weapons lock onto those threats and, it is hoped, shoot them down. The second balloon is set to rise over Edgewood early next year.
Full story with a short video here: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryla ... story.html
