EPIC - EPIC v. Army - Surveillance Blimps

EPIC v. Army - Surveillance Blimps

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Background |
EPIC's Interest|
EPIC's FOIA Request|
Freedom of Information Act Documents |
Legal Documents |
News Items

Top News

EPIC Obtains Reports on Runaway Army Blimp: As the result of a FOIA Request, EPIC has obtained nearly two hundred pages of reports about the Army surveillance blimp that broke free and crash landed in Pennsylvania. In 2015 the blimp roamed the East Coast before its crash and caused blackouts across the Pennsylvania countryside as it downed power lines. The documents obtained by EPIC include technical reports, a field investigation, and maintenance worksheets. The reports reveal the tail of the blimp failed, raising questions about the government's maintenance of the controversial and very expensive surveillance program. Through an earlier FOIA lawsuit, EPIC uncovered details about the plan to deploy the surveillance blimp over Washington, DC. The Runaway Blimp launched an Internet meme. (Jun. 7, 2017)
Army Loses Surveillance Blimp; Blimp Roaming the East Coast: One of the military's controversial surveillance blimps has broken free from its tether in Maryland and is now drifting over Pennsylvania. According to a report, the blimp is now floating at 16,000 feet and dragging a 6,700 foot cable. Through a FOIA lawsuit filed earlier this year, EPIC uncovered details about the Army's plan to fly two "JLENS" blimps over the Washington, DC area. The several thousand documents uncovered by EPIC describe the use of JLENS, as well as the Army's relationship with the contractor Raytheon, which has proposed a video surveillance capability. (Oct. 28, 2015)

More top news »

"Eyes Over Washington:" EPIC Obtains Documents about Army Blimps in DC » (Apr. 15, 2015)

As the result of a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit, EPIC has obtained several thousand pages about the blimps deployed by the Army, just north of the nation's capital. The records document the use of "JLENS," as well as the Army's relationship with the contractor Raytheon, which has proposed a video surveillance capability. The Army has disputed the claim that JLENS has surveillance capability. EPIC has recently filed suit against the FAA for failure to establish privacy rules for commercial drones in the US.

"Eyes Over DC" - Department of Defense Launches Surveillance Blimps » (Dec. 17, 2014)

On Friday, December 19, 2014, the US army will deploy surveillance blimps just north of the nation's capital. The surveillance blimp system, known as "JLENS," is comprised of two 250' blimps. One blimp contains aerial and ground surveillance technology that covers a 340-mile range, while the other has targeting capability. The JLENS was originally deployed in Iraq. Earlier this year, EPIC filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit to gain more information about the JLENS system. Preliminary documents obtained by EPIC suggested that the blimps would be equipped with video surveillance, though the Army has since claimed that video surveillance will not be deployed. However, documents obtained by EPIC in another FOIA case indicate that Customs and Border Protection is operating surveillance blimps with video surveillance. And the contractor Raytheon has demoed a video surveillance upgrade for the JLENS system. For more information see: EPIC v. Dept. of Army - Surveillance Blimps, EPIC: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, and EPIC Spotlight on Surveillance (2005) - "Unmanned Planes Offer New Opportunities for Clandestine Government Tracking."

EPIC Spotlight: Domestic Drones, Surveillance, and the Privacy Risks » (Oct. 23, 2014)

EPIC's Spotlight on Surveillance Project returns to focus attention on domestic drone surveillance. Congress recently mandated that the Federal Aviation Administration integrate drones into the National Airspace, raising concerns about both safety and privacy. The FAA has begun granting limited exemptions to the current ban on commercial drones. EPIC's Spotlight "Eyes in the Sky" examines the surveillance capabilities of drone technology and recommend comprehensive privacy legislation. EPIC has also testified in Congress in support of drone privacy law, urged the FAA to mandate minimum privacy standards, and pursued several significant FOIA cases. For more information, see EPIC's Spotlight on Surveillance on Drones and EPIC: EPIC v. Army (Surveillance Blimps).

UPDATE-Army Backs Off Plan for DC Surveillance Blimp » (Sep. 8, 2014)

According to the Washington Post, the Department of Army will not deploy video surveillance cameras over the nation's capital. The announcement follows the release of documents to EPIC in a Freedom Information Act lawsuit. The blimps provide radar-based aerial surveillance and targeting capabilities. A recent video by the contractor Raytheon revealed that 24/7 video surveillance feed is easily incorporated. An Army Spokesperson told the Post that the blimps will "absolutely, 100 percent" not include video capacity. A similar EPIC FOIA case against the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection revealed that drones are designed to incorporate advance video surveillance gear even when not initially deployed. For more information, see EPIC: EPIC v. Army - Surveillance Blimps, EPIC: Domestic Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Drones, and EPIC: Freedom of Information Act Litigation.

EPIC FOIA Case - Army Blimps over Washington Loaded with Surveillance Gear, Cost $1.6 Billion » (Aug. 29, 2014)

EPIC has received substantial new information about the surveillance blimps, now deployed over Washington, DC. The documents were released to EPIC in a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against the Department of the Army. The documents also reveal that the Army paid Raytheon $1.6 billion. EPiC will receive more documents about the controversial program In October. For more information, see EPIC: EPIC v. Army - Surveillance Blimps and EPIC: Freedom of Information Act Litigation.

Congress May Cut Funding For Surveillance Blimps Over DC » (Jul. 3, 2014)

The Department of the Army is seeking $54 million to fund the Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor System, or JLENS. The request is part of the Fiscal Year 2015 Defense Budget that Congress is currently considering. The system consists of long-range surveillance technologies and targeting capabilities including HELLFIRE missiles. JLENS was originally deployed in war zones in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Army wants to test the system in Washington, DC, but the program has come under scrutiny by Congress because of cost overruns. EPIC recently filed a Freedom of Information lawsuit against the Army, seeking more information about the JLENS program. For more information, see EPIC: EPIC v. Army - Surveillance Blimps.

EPIC Sues Army for Information About DC Surveillance Blimps » (May. 7, 2014)

EPIC has filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against the Department of the Army for documents about JLENS, a sophisticated surveillance system that will be deployed over Washington, DC during the next three years. JLENS is comprised of two 250' blimps. One blimp conducts aerial and ground surveillance over a 340-mile range, while the other has targeting capability including HELLFIRE missiles. The JLENS was originally deployed in Iraq. In the FOIA request, EPIC asked the Army for technical specifications as well as any policies limiting domestic surveillance. EPIC has urged Congress to establish privacy safeguards for aerial drones. For more information, see EPIC: EPIC v. Army - Surveillance Blimps, EPIC: Drones - Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, and EPIC Spotlight on Surveillance (2005) - "Unmanned Planes Offer New Opportunities for Clandestine Government Tracking."

Background

On November 1, 2013, EPIC filed a FOIA request with the Department of the Army for records related to a blimp-mounted surveillance system called "JLENS" (Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor Systems). The JLENS system, manufactured by the defense contractor Raytheon, consists of a two-part system. The first part supports persistent, 360-degree radar-based surveillance over hundreds of miles. The other part is capable of firing missiles at targets being tracked by the radar surveillance system. Raytheon describes JLENS as "two tethered, 74-meter helium-filled aerostats connected to mobile mooring stations and a communications and processing group. The aerostats fly as high as 10,000 feet above sea level and can remain aloft and operational for up to 30 days. One aerostat carries a surveillance radar with 360-degree surveillance capability; the other aerostat carries a fire control radar.”

Additionally, Raytheon has successfully tested JLENS' ability to support additional surveillance equipment in the form of a live video feed. JLENS operators can observe surface moving targets in real time using a Raytheon Company MTS-B Multi-Spectral Targeting System - a “long-range surveillance, target acquisition, tracking, range-finding and laser designation for the HELLFIRE missile and all tri-service and NATO laser-guided munitions."

The Army plans to test the surveillance capabilities of the JLENS system by surveilling the Washington, D.C. area for three years. The Army's test is scheduled to begin in the fall of 2014.

EPIC's Interest

EPIC has a long history of using the FOIA and other administrative procedure laws to assess aerial surveillance by the federal government. In 2005, EPIC first publicized the impact of aerial drones (or UAVs) on citizen privacy, specifically in the area of border surveillance. EPIC explained, "the use of UAVs gives the federal government a new capability to monitor citizens clandestinely, while the effectiveness of the expensive, crash-prone surveillance planes in border patrol operations has not been proved."

On February 24, 2012, EPIC, joined by over 100 organizations, experts, and members of the public, submitted a petition to the FAA requesting a notice and comment rulemaking under the Administrative Procedure Act on the privacy impact of drones. The petition pointed out that the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (signed on February 14, 2012) provides an opportunity for the Agency to address the privacy questions raised by drone usage.

Additionally, EPIC has worked to establish privacy safeguards from satellite locational tracking (specifically, GPS tracking). In 2013, EPIC testified before the Texas State Assembly on a privacy bill for telephone location data. EPIC's testimony discussed GPS tracking and the need for clear rules governing location surveillance that satisfy Fourth Amendment standards, as well as the importance of public reporting and accountability.

The introduction of JLENS-equipped surveillance blimps into the Washington, D.C. airspace may pose a significant threat to privacy. EPIC's goal in the FOIA request and subsequent FOIA lawsuit is to determine what surveillance data the Army plans to collect during its 3-year JLENS test, as well as how the Army plans to process, store, redact, or delete that data.

EPIC's Freedom of Information Act Request

On November 1, 2013, EPIC submitted a FOIA request asking for:

1) All technical specifications, contracts, and statements of work for JLENS systems purchased for or contracted for by the Department of the Army, including but not limited to contracts with Raytheon;
2) All instructions, policies, and procedures concerning the use of JLENS to collect, store, transmit, reproduce, retain, degrade, or delete images and sounds;
3) All documents detailing the technical specifications of visual and auditory surveillance hardware on JLENS aerostats; and
4) All contracts and statements of work entered into by the Department of the Army for JLENS hardware, software, or training that concerns the ability of JLENS to collect, obscure, degrade, store, transmit, reproduce, retain, or delete images and sounds.