Three Harford County Council members and several council aides visited Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, D.C., Thursday for a more detailed briefing on the radar-equipped aerostat tests being conducted in the skies over Harford from Aberdeen Proving Ground.
The local contingent received a behind-the-scenes look at the program that launched Harford's aerostat late last year, after Council President Richard Slutzky expressed concern about what was perceived as a "lack of information" at an initial briefing to the council last year by project representatives.
"I wanted to make sure we completely understood this project, and its possible impact on Harford County," Slutzky said upon the group's return. "I asked Councilman Jim McMahan to spearhead this fact-finding mission because of his military background, and we now feel we have a complete understanding of the program, and its importance to the security of our nation's capital and surrounding area."
McMahan, who was joined by Councilmen Patrick Vincenti and Curtis Beulah, said he welcomed the transparency of the military team that explained the system, the Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor System, or JLENS.
"All we were asking for was simply a clear understanding of the mission of the aerostats. And, we got our answers from the Air Force and Army National Guard teams spearheading this project," he said. "I can now say with confidence, this system is being tested to offer our region long-range radar capabilities in the defense of our country."
McMahan said he believes the choice of Aberdeen Proving Ground for JLENS makes sense because air traffic around the installation is already restricted. He had previously expressed reservations about the program under what he now says was a misconception the unmanned blimps could be one day be outfitted with weapons.
JLENS is being conducted by the Ohio Army National Guard, which has been training for more than a year on the project. Among those briefing the Harford County group at Bolling were Lt. Col Edmund Danis, commander of the Eastern Air Defense Sector, a unit of 1st Air Force, and Maj. Elizabeth Kreft, of the Air National Guard.
The aerostats, each about the length of a football field, are designed to remain in fixed positions, "looking" out more than 300 miles to detect possible threats launched toward the region, according to information supplied the group during the briefing. That long-range ability is designed to give the military the time it needs to assess the threat and to take action.
Radar as traditionally used can detect possible threats but, relatively speaking, at a much later time, providing intelligence that must be acted upon quickly. With this radar system, it was explained, the belief is the 360-degree, 300-plus mile range will provide both the intelligence and the necessary time to assess the situation and take appropriate action.
The aerostat tethered over APG is to be partnered with a second later in the spring. The two aerostats, to be placed about four miles apart, are designed to work in tandem, with one focused on a 360-degree scan of the skies and the second to be used to zero in on objects detected.
Both blimps are intended to be tethered 10,000 feet in the air, with their cables designed to deliver power up to the aerostat to run the radar equipment, and to provide a conduit for the radar system to feed information down to the ground.
JLENS testing is set to run through the end of September 2017. After that date, the councilmen were told, it will be up to Congress to determine future funding for the system.
"I am satisfied with all that has been made public at this point," McMahan said, noting: "There is obviously a lot more of this project that is classified."
Merrie Streett is a former director of community, government and community relations for Harford County government and a former news director at WBAL Radio. She attended the March 12 briefing as a guest of Councilman Jim McMahan.