Aerostat best ‘eye in the sky' along U.S.-Mexico border
April 18, 2011 7:35 PM
BY CHUCK WULLENJOHN - SPECIAL TO YUMA SUN

Along Highway 95 about 50 miles from Yuma, a huge helium- and air-filled white aerostat balloon flies high in the sky, so far above the ground that it looks like an innocuous dot amid a huge blue sky. But that balloon performs an important mission, one that helps prevent the flow of dangerous drugs into America.

A system of eight tethered aerostat balloons are stationed along the U.S.-Mexico border to detect and monitor illegal low-level aircraft and surface border incursions. Operated by ITT Systems Corp. for the Air Force, the aerostats are located at various points between Texas and California, as well as Florida and Puerto Rico.

One aerostat has operated at Yuma Proving Ground since early 1989. With a long record of quality results, the operation was singled out earlier this year by ITT Systems Corp. as “aerostat site of the yearâ€