Story highlights Army will test balloons around Washington, D.C. that guard against cruise missiles

It's a three-year test of the JLENS system and doubles radar capabilities, Army says

"It's not for surveillance," just for cruise missiles, NORAD spokesman explains

NORAD also will use the system to track Santa Claus on Christmas Eve

The U.S. Army plans to launch two stationary "blimps" at 10,000-feet in the air next week to better protect the Washington, D.C. area from cruise missiles and other possible air attacks.

It's part of a three-year test by the North American Aerospace Defense Command of the so-called JLENS System , which is designed to work with already-existing air defense technology.

The tethered large balloons, called aerostats, carry technology that will almost double the reach of current ground radar detection, officials said. The JLENS manufacturer, Raytheon Corp., says the system can provide radar coverage to an area the size of Texas.

It will "increase decision time available to respond efficiently and accurately for the defense of the National Capital Region," NORAD said.

The JLENS system -- which stands for Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor -- has no firing capability. Any response to missile attacks would still come from ground missiles, ships and airplanes, according to NORAD.

Photos: Inflating an Army 'blimp' Photos: Inflating an Army 'blimp' Inflating an Army 'blimp' – The U.S. Army is launching two stationary "blimps" at 10,000-feet over Maryland to better protect the Washington, D.C., area from cruise missiles and other possible air attacks. On December 14, personnel from the Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor System (JLENS) oversee the inflation of an aerostat, or stationary blimp, at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. Hide Caption 1 of 8 Photos: Inflating an Army 'blimp' Inflating an Army 'blimp' – Crew work with the structure of the aerostat at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. Hide Caption 2 of 8 Photos: Inflating an Army 'blimp' Inflating an Army 'blimp' – The aerostat begins to take shape. Hide Caption 3 of 8 Photos: Inflating an Army 'blimp' Inflating an Army 'blimp' – Crew check the inflation of the Army aerostat. Hide Caption 4 of 8 Photos: Inflating an Army 'blimp' Inflating an Army 'blimp' – When inflated and tethered, the aerostat will rise to 10,000 feet. Hide Caption 5 of 8 Photos: Inflating an Army 'blimp' Inflating an Army 'blimp' – The aerostats carry technology that will almost double the reach of current ground radar detection, officials said. Hide Caption 6 of 8 Photos: Inflating an Army 'blimp' Inflating an Army 'blimp' – The JLENS System is designed to work with already existing air defense technology. Hide Caption 7 of 8 Photos: Inflating an Army 'blimp' Inflating an Army 'blimp' – The balloons will fly above the Army's Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland and do not carry any cameras. Hide Caption 8 of 8

The military gave a preview of the JLENS system at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland on Wednesday.

The balloons will fly above the Army's Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland and do not carry any cameras.

"It's not for surveillance," said NORAD spokesman Michael Kucharek. "It's simply for the detection of cruise missiles."

The 242-foot-long aerostats will be tethered to the ground by 1⅛-thick "super-strong" cables, according to Raytheon. The tethering system is designed to withstand 100 mph winds and had no problems in 106 mph winds during testing, the company said.

The helium-filled aerostats can stay aloft for up to 30 days at a time, making it five to seven times cheaper to operate than using aircraft for the task, Raytheon says.

NORAD says the JLENS system will be crewed by 130 personnel at the Maryland base.

The agency is working with the FAA so the balloons won't impede air traffic, Kucharek said.

Weather permitting, a launch is planned for Monday, just in time to aid NORAD in its most important December task.