A 2012 report by the Pentagon’s operational testing office faulted the airborne radar system in four “critical performance areas” and rated its reliability as “poor.” (Raytheon)
L.A. Times: Pentagon suspends troubled missile defense system at center of 'runaway blimp'
The Pentagon has suspended indefinitely a trial run of the troubled missile defense system called JLENS, whose giant, radar-carrying blimps were intended to help safeguard the skies over Washington.
The three-year “operational exercise” has been a financial lifeline for JLENS, arranged by supporters of the program after Army leaders tried to kill it.
Any decision whether to resume the exercise will wait until after the Army has completed an investigation into how one of the pilotless blimps broke away from its mooring station in Maryland last week and flew uncontrolled over parts of two mid-Atlantic states, military officials said Tuesday.
“It’s going to be a complete and thorough investigation, and it takes time,” Army spokesman Dov Schwartz said.
Update: Pentagon reportedly suspends missile defense program behind runaway blimp -- FOX News
WNU Editor: This program escaped the latest budget cuts .... Lawmakers Agree To $5 Billion In Defense Cuts, Leave Military Blimp JLENS Totally Untouched (Daily Caller) .... but after the latest fiasco, this program is one step from being terminated.
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