<s>
The	O
Tethered	B-Algorithm
Aerostat	I-Algorithm
Radar	I-Algorithm
System	I-Algorithm
(	O
TARS	O
)	O
is	O
an	O
American	O
low-level	O
airborne	B-Algorithm
ground	I-Algorithm
surveillance	I-Algorithm
system	O
that	O
uses	O
aerostats	O
(	O
moored	O
balloons	O
)	O
as	O
radar	B-Application
platforms	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
largest	O
lifts	O
a	O
1000kg	O
payload	O
to	O
an	O
operating	O
altitude	O
providing	O
low-level	O
,	O
downward-looking	O
radar	B-Application
coverage	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
aerostat	O
consists	O
of	O
four	O
major	O
parts	O
or	O
assemblies	O
:	O
the	O
hull	O
and	O
fin	O
,	O
windscreen	O
and	O
radar	B-Application
platform	O
,	O
airborne	O
power	O
generator	O
,	O
and	O
rigging	O
,	O
and	O
tether	O
;	O
they	O
are	O
kite	O
balloons	O
obtaining	O
aerodynamic	O
lift	O
from	O
relative	O
wind	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
buoyancy	O
from	O
being	O
lighter	O
than	O
air	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
blimp	O
carries	O
the	O
Lockheed	O
Martin	O
L-88	O
as	O
its	O
primary	O
payload	O
,	O
a	O
surveillance	O
radar	B-Application
with	O
a	O
range	O
of	O
370km	O
(	O
200nm	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
the	O
U.S.	O
Customs	O
and	O
Border	O
Protection	O
(	O
CBP	O
)	O
assumed	O
responsibility	O
the	O
Tethered	B-Algorithm
Aerostat	I-Algorithm
Radar	I-Algorithm
System	I-Algorithm
(	O
TARS	O
)	O
project	O
and	O
its	O
funding	O
since	O
fiscal	O
year	O
2014	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
primary	O
mission	O
is	O
to	O
provide	O
low-level	O
radar	B-Application
surveillance	O
along	O
the	O
border	O
between	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
and	O
Mexico	O
,	O
the	O
Straits	O
of	O
Florida	O
and	O
the	O
Caribbean	O
in	O
support	O
of	O
federal	O
agencies	O
involved	O
in	O
the	O
nation	O
's	O
drug	O
interdiction	O
program	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
aerostat	O
radar	B-Application
data	O
is	O
available	O
to	O
NORAD	O
and	O
U.S.	O
Customs	O
and	O
Border	O
Protection	O
.	O
</s>
