The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has scrambled two F-16 fighter jets after a high-tech military surveillance blimp broke free of its cables in Maryland and floated off, according to defense officials.
The blimp, known as a JLENS (Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor System), was being tested at the Aberdeen Proving Ground when cables tethering the blimp to the ground came loose, according to NORAD.
The blimp is floating northeast of Washington, D.C., somewhere over Pennsylvania according to NORAD.
"Two F-16 Fighter jets from Atlantic City ANGB are monitoring the JLENS aerostat, which is holding at approximately 16,000 feet," NORAD said in a statement. "NORAD officials are working closely with the FAA to ensure air traffic safety, as well as with our other interagency partners to address the safe recovery of the aerostat."
The JLENS is a surveillance blimp that can detect long-range threats from drones, cruise missiles, and other moving targets.
