TARS Aerostat Fact Sheet.pdf
PDF 748 KB Posted
- Attached to
- Request for Information (RFI)- Aerostat Envelope
- Solicitation number
- 2016XXXX
About this file
This is a fact sheet from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security describing the Tethered Aerostat Radar System (TARS) operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Air and Marine Operations. TARS is a radar detection system designed to provide long-range detection of low-altitude aircraft at approximately 200 miles range, mitigating terrain masking and earth curvature limitations. The system is deployed at eight operational sites along the southern border from Arizona to Puerto Rico, with expansion requirements identified for the Gulf of Mexico, southern Atlantic and Pacific coastlines, and Caribbean regions to detect illicit air smuggling activities by transnational criminal organizations. Despite representing less than 2% of integrated radars in the Air and Marine Operations Surveillance System, TARS accounts for nearly half of all suspect targets detected annually, with responsibility for detecting 68% of suspected air smuggling flights approaching the southwest border from Mexico during FY 2014-2020.
AMO operates two aerostat models: the 275K with 275,000 cubic feet volume, 186-foot length, 62.5-foot diameter, and 1,200-pound maximum payload; and the 420K with 420,000 cubic feet volume, 208.5-foot length, 69.5-foot diameter, and 2,400-pound maximum payload. The system architecture includes helium-filled balloons, fixed site mooring and tether controls, command and control stations, data distribution networks, maintenance support vehicles and facilities, with a minimum of five operators required for launch and recovery operations. The aerostat manufacturer is ILC Dover, with TCOM serving as the system integrator. Additional information is available through CBP's border security website or the Office of Public Affairs.
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| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| aerostat 275K_PD.pdf | ||
| Aerostat275K_RFI_082026.pdf |
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Text version
F A
C T
S H
E E
T
U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations (AMO) uses the Tethered Aerostat Radar System (TARS) to provide long-range detection of low-altitude aircraft at the radar’s maximum range. The elevated sensor mitigates curvature of the earth and terrain masking limitations.
TARS detects and tracks a majority of suspicious air traffic along the southwest border, including ultralight and short landing aircraft threats. DHS requires this unique TARS capability in areas beyond the southwest border, including the Gulf of Mexico, southern Atlantic and Pacific coastlines and extended regions throughout the Caribbean used by transnational criminal organizations for illicit smuggling of narcotics and people.
AMO operates two types of aerostats, the 275K and 420K. The hull of the aerostat contains two parts separated by a gas-tight fabric partition. The upper chamber is filled with helium and provides the aerostat’s lifting capability. The lower chamber of the hull is a pressurized air compartment.
The aerostat system consists of a helium-filled balloon, fixed site mooring and tether controls, command and control stations, data distribution network, and maintenance support vehicles and facilities. A minimum of five operators launch and recover the
TARS.
AMO operates eight sites along the southern border from Arizona to Puerto Rico. Although these eight TARS sites represent less than 2% of the total integrated radars in the Air and Marine Operations Surveillance System, they account for nearly half of all suspect targets detected by radar each year.
From FY 2014 through FY 2020, TARS was responsible for detecting 68% of all suspected air smuggling flights approaching the southwest border from Mexico.
1492-0721
Air and Marine Operations Tethered Aerostat Radar System
(TARS)
Performance and Weights:
• Manufacturer
ILC Dover
• System Integrator
TCOM
• Volume
275,000 cubic feet (275K)
420,000 cubic feet (420K)
• Length
186 feet (275K) / 208.5 feet (420K)
• Diameter
62.5 feet (275K) / 69.5 feet (420K)
• Maximum Payload
1,200 pounds (275K)
2,400 pounds (420K)
• Range (Air Search)
Approximately 200 miles
For more information, visit https://www.cbp.gov/border-security/air-sea or contact the Office of Public Affairs at (202) 344-1780.
File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated .