A massive Pentagon surveillance blimp broke free from its tether in Aberdeen, Maryland, outside of Washington, Wednesday. The blimp — technically an “aerostat” in the $2.7 billion Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor System (JLENS) program — is floating somewhere above Pennsylvania, The Baltimore Sun reported.
The blimp from @USAGAPG has come off its tether. If you see it on the ground, call 911. Here’s what it looks like. pic.twitter.com/mRHhpJdfHU
— Joppa-Magnolia VFC (@jmvfc8) October 28, 2015
According to CNN, two F-16 fighter jets have been deployed from an Air National Guard base in Atlantic City to track the blimp. NORAD is also working with the FAA to make sure it does not get in the way of other air traffic.
From Raytheon’s #JLENS FAQ: https://t.co/mIX58aD5l0 Won’t happen and no worries. pic.twitter.com/g1GU5UomKi
— Dan Froomkin (@froomkin) October 28, 2015
The blimp is one of many developed by the Pentagon carrying radar equipment to act as an early detection system in the case of an air attack against the United States. An L.A. Times investigation earlier this year found that the JLENS program failed to meet its operational goals.
The blimp, according to its maker Raytheon, is 242 feet long. It reportedly is pulling along a cable 6,700 feet long and there are concerns its tether could knock out power lines. PPL Electric was investigating power outages being experienced by some 24,000 customers, a PPL spokesman told MSNBC.
Late update: Multiple Twitter users have uploaded images that they say show the blimp in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania.
@samfbiddle @maddisonmall pic.twitter.com/qZhY7o02mx
— Harles (@harleighwelsh1) October 28, 2015
@ABC @GMA Landed in bloomsburg right by my school. Knocked out the power at CMVT. pic.twitter.com/WLJydKVf2I
— Fisher P Creasy (@FPCreasy) October 28, 2015
Wow. Hate to be the person that let that slip away…
That’s probably the definition of a bad day.
$2.7 billion.
“Failed to meet its operational goals.”
And that’s why we need to abolish the Dept. of Education.
No problem, Obama has found it!! What a Prez!
Heck of a Job! I mean, we’ve not been attacked by Land Attack Cruise Missiles now have we? I feel safer already!
Wait… $2.7 billion? You know, it’s because we spend so much on shit like this, we can’t have nice things.
Last seen circling some stadium.