2 fighter jets track JLENS blimp that has broken free of its tether in Maryland

[AF-Roger]

A JLENS blimp that has been tethered at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland has broken free Wednesday and is being tracked by two fighter jets traveling over Pennsylvania at 16,000 feet, a NORAD spokesman said.

JLENS is short for Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor. The craft looks like a blimp, but the tether technically means it is an aerostat. The craft is the size of a football field and cost about $180 million each.

The Baltimore Sun reported that the helium-filled blimp detached at about 11:54 a.m. and was pulling about 6,700 feet of cable. The paper reported that the military is working with the FAA to maintain air safety. The Air Force said two F-16 fighter jets from Atlantic City are monitoring the blimp.

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf's office issued a statement saying it is aware of the situation and has been in contact with various departments and the state's emergency management agency.

Read more 2 fighter jets track JLENS blimp that has broken free of its tether in Maryland

 

[azgold]

Holy cow! You wouldn't want that (or its cables) coming at you, it's huge!

Hopefully, no planes will have a problem with it.

By the way....a blimp land attack cruise missile sensor? Huh!

 

[T J Tutor]

Hope they have an "If Found: Return To" sticker on it!

 

[azgold]

Hope they have an "If Found: Return To" sticker on it!

Had to laugh!

 

[omajga]

nice picture