A little research supplied the answer. This is a Tethered Aerostat Radar System. They let the blimp out on several thousand feet of line and its down-looking radar keeps an eye on things. Like illegal activity from across the border.
But this particular TAR is about 20 miles from the border. Either it can see a long way, or officials only care if Mexicans get so close.
At any rate, this one wasn't flying—because of the rain, I suppose. Does that mean smugglers know it's safer to cross in bad weather?
Saw these along I-10 in western New Mexico....thought W-T-H is that thing!!! Got same answer as you from a couple Border Patrol agents on 4 wheelers an hour or so later......their version of the "eye in the sky"......
ReplyDeleteI saw the same type of blimp on 95 going north toward Quartzsite from Yuma last winter. It had me in awe as at first I could not figure how a white speck could just hover stationary in the air. Then I realized it was something like this.
ReplyDelete