JLENS Airships To Monitor Airspace Along The Eastern Seaboard

The U.S. Army is getting set to permanently deploy JLENS airships over the Aberdeen Proving Ground near Baltimore, MD, and that has some privacy advocates a little itchy under the collar.

The JLENS airships, developed by Raytheon, have been undergoing testing in Utah. Television station WJZ reports that, according to the Army, they will be scanning for anti-ship cruise missiles, UAVs and swarming boats. They will be tethered over Aberdeen, and on clear days will be visible from as many as 20 miles away.

News of the deployment raised concerns with the ACLU, who questioned what else the military might want to test or track with the airships. "That kind of tracking technology raises privacy concerns," ACLU staff attorney David Rocah told the station.

A spokesperson for Aberdeen said the public has nothing to be worried about. "There are no cameras aboard the payloads of either of these aerostats. We are not going to be hovering around our neighbors around Aberdeen Proving Grounds, seeing what they are doing in their backyards; no cameras, no spying,” said Aberdeen spokeswoman Kelly Luster.

The station reports that operation of the aerostats will bring more than 140 people to the region.

(Image from file)

FMI: www.apg.army.mil