U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Operations, Tethered Aerostat Radar System (TARS), Eagle Pass, TX
Eagle Pass, TX - An EC-120 helicopter outside the gate of an aerostat site in Eagle Pass, 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