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WASHINGTON, D.C. (CNN) — The U.S. Army plans to launch two stationary "blimps" at 10,000-feet in the air next week to better protect the Washington D.C. area from cruise missiles and other possible air attacks.
It's part of a three-year test by the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) of the so-called JLENS System, which is designed to work with already existing air defense technology.
The tethered large balloons, called aerostats, carry technology that will almost double the reach of current ground radar detection, officials said.
It will "increase decision time available to respond efficiently and accurately for the defense of the National Capitol Region," NORAD said.
The JLENS system — which stands for Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor — has no firing capability. Any response to missile attacks would still come from ground missiles, ships and airplanes, according to NORAD.
It's not for surveillance. It's simply for the detection of cruise missiles.
–Michael Kucharek, NORAD
The balloons will fly above the Army's Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland and do not carry any cameras.
"It's not for surveillance," said NORAD spokesman Michael Kucharek. "It's simply for the detection of cruise missiles."
The agency is working with the FAA so the balloons won't impede air traffic, Kucharek said.
Weather permitting, a launch is planned for Monday, just in time to aid NORAD in its most important December task.
"We fully intend to take the information gathered by the system and use it to track Santa," Kucharek said.
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