An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

NORAD Announces Launch Of Second JLENS Aerostat

  • Published
  • By Continental United States NORAD Region - First Air Force (Air Forces Northern)
  • Office of Public Affairs
The North American Aerospace Defense Command and its geographical component, the Continental United States NORAD Region (CONR), announce the launch of the Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense System (JLENS) second and final aerostat.

The aerostat is expected to go aloft on August 19 and will be visible to those in and around Edgewood, Md.  In the event of inclement weather, the launch may be delayed.

The JLENS exercise is designed to provide persistent, line-of-sight radar surveillance and precision track quality data to Army and Joint networks within the National Capitol Region and surrounding areas. A JLENS system consists of two tethered aerostats that fly at an altitude of up to 10,000 feet, as well as mobile mooring stations, radar and communications payloads, a processing station, and associated ground support equipment. JLENS takes advantage of its altitude to achieve a greater coverage range than other ground-based sensors.

NORAD is the bi-national Canadian and American command responsible for the air defense of North America and maritime warning. The command has three subordinate regional headquarters: the Alaskan NORAD Region at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska; the Canadian NORAD Region at Winnipeg, Manitoba; and the Continental NORAD Region at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.

The command is poised both tactically and strategically in our nation's capital to provide a multilayered defense to detect, deter and prevent potential threats flying over the airspace of the United States and Canada.