Return of Blimps to Defend Washington

Blimps to bolster Washington's air shield in test

By Jim Wolf | Reuters – 21 hrs ago

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A pair of big, blimp-like craft, moored to the ground and flying as high as 10,000 feet, are to be added to a high-tech shield designed to protect the Washington D.C. area from air attack, at least for a while.

The bulbous, helium-filled "aerostats" - each more than three quarters the length of a football field at 243 feet - are to be stitched into existing defenses as part of an exercise of new technology ordered by the Defense Department.

The coming addition to the umbrella over Washington is known as Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor System, or JLENS. Raytheon Co is the prime contractor.

More - Link >>> http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/01/us-usa-blimps-raytheon-idUSBRE91018320130201

Source: Reuters Wire News Service.

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