(Deming) – It looks the Deming Aerostat balloon will be
coming down – and sooner rather than later.
Speculation has been swirling around the internet and social media for weeks that the government will be shutting down
the TARS – or Tethered Aerostat Radar System – program by the end of the fiscal year.
Reportedly, employees were notified that the aerostat system will cease as of March 15th. Budget cuts are being blamed for the shutdown.
A media request for confirmation on the shutdown resulted in the Air Force issuing an official statement saying the Deputy Secretary of Defense directed in December of 2011 that the DOD end its sponsorship of the aerostat program due to budgetary constraints.
The statement also said interagency discussions to examine options to keep the program in operation are ongoing.
An Air Force website shows the system has the aerostat operational site southwest of Deming as well as sites in Yuma and Fort Huachuca, Arizona… Marfa, Eagle Pass and Rio Grande City, Texas… Cudjoe Key, Florida… and Lajas, Puerto Rico. The logistics hub for the project has been located in El Paso, Texas.
coming down – and sooner rather than later.
Speculation has been swirling around the internet and social media for weeks that the government will be shutting down
the TARS – or Tethered Aerostat Radar System – program by the end of the fiscal year.
Reportedly, employees were notified that the aerostat system will cease as of March 15th. Budget cuts are being blamed for the shutdown.
A media request for confirmation on the shutdown resulted in the Air Force issuing an official statement saying the Deputy Secretary of Defense directed in December of 2011 that the DOD end its sponsorship of the aerostat program due to budgetary constraints.
The statement also said interagency discussions to examine options to keep the program in operation are ongoing.
An Air Force website shows the system has the aerostat operational site southwest of Deming as well as sites in Yuma and Fort Huachuca, Arizona… Marfa, Eagle Pass and Rio Grande City, Texas… Cudjoe Key, Florida… and Lajas, Puerto Rico. The logistics hub for the project has been located in El Paso, Texas.
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