AMO Tethered Aerostat Radar System (TARS) Marfa
Marfa, TX - The Tethered Aerostat Radar System (TARS) is low-level airborne ground surveillance system that uses aerostats (moored balloons) as radar platforms. U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Operations use the TARS to provide persistent, long-range detection and monitoring (radar surveillance) capability for interdicting low-level air, maritime and surface smugglers and narcotics traffickers. Photographer: Donna Burton. Original public domain image from Flickr