December 18, 2014

Pentagon launching missile defense blimps to patrol East Coast






http://rt.com/usa/215403-army-surveillance-blimp-test/

The US Army is set to begin testing its blimp-like surveillance airships, designed to help the military detect and destroy cruise missiles from attacking the nation’s capital and other East Coast cities.
The blimps at the center of the tests in Maryland are unmanned, 80-yard long, helium-filled aircraft that can float up to 10,000 feet in the air. At that height – a third of the cruising altitude for commercial airliners – they will patrol the skies above major East Coast cities for three years.
During the testing, one aircraft – also called an aerostat – will scan in an area from New York to North Carolina’s Outer Banks, and as far west as central Ohio. The other blimp will carry radar to help the military on the ground pinpoint targets.


The system is called JLENS, short for Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor System. The radar is used to spot missiles or “swarming boats” filled with explosives from as far away as 340 miles. The army said the blimps won’t carry weapons, as enemy missiles would be destroyed by air-, ground- or ship-based weapons.
"We can defeat cruise missiles but we have limited capability to detect. And so, with an elevated sensor, such as JLENS, and the ability to look out over the horizon, now we have the ability to detect and to enable our systems to defeat cruise missiles," Maj. Gen. Glen Bramhall, commander of the 263rd Army Air and Missile Defense, told The Associated Press.

December 8, 2014

Rivers of blood follow Silesian road accident



http://thenews.pl/1/9/Artykul/189693,Rivers-of-blood-follow-Silesian-road-accident

The incident happened after the truck landed in a roadside ditch and the blood started to flow out of one tanker’s hatches.
A fire crew on the spot managed to complete the clean-up operation on Saturday morning. A chemical platoon was also sent from Czestochowa to deal with the spill.
Fire authorities in Czestochowa told Polish Radio that the procedures following the accident were similar to those of a petrol spill, with some of the 8,000 litres of blood being cleaned up and the remainder being covered with lime.
Veterinary and environment inspectors were also informed of the incident, with the local veterinary inspector also examining the accident site.

December 7, 2014

Polish paraglider crashes into Maltese cliffs


http://thenews.pl/1/10/Artykul/189564,Polish-paraglider-crashes-into-Maltese-cliffs

The accident occurred on Thursday afternoon, when the Pole lost control mid-flight over the Dingli Cliffs.
The 25-year-old is understood to have sustained injuries to his back and chest.
A Romanian friend of the injured man called emergency services, who were swiftly at the scene.
Local police are investigating the circumstances of the incident.