For the last four years the High-frequency Active Auroral Research Project (HAARP) has been managed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) with Dr. Sheldon Z. Meth as the Program Manager. As of March 9, 2006 the official DARPA page for HAARP http://www.darpa.mil/ucar/programs/haarp.htm states that the high frequency transmitting array at the HAARP Research Station, Gakona, AK has been completed.

"The HAARP Interactive Ionospheric Research Observatory is a major Arctic facility for the study of upper atmospheric and solar-terrestrial physics and for Radio Science and Communications research. Among the instruments included at the facility are a high power, high-frequency (HF) phased array radio transmitter, numerous radio frequency and optical research instruments capable of observing and monitoring the complex auroral ionosphere, and site infrastructure to support research activities. "

The above is from the official HAARP website http://www.haarp.alaska.edu/haarp/ The high-frequency phased array radio transmitter mentioned is also called the Ionospheric Research Instrument (IRI) and it is the heart of the HAARP program. The Final IRI (FIRI) is a field of 180 towers, each 72 feet tall with two crossed dipole antennas at the top of each tower. Slung beneath the towers is a wire grid for reflecting upward any radio emissions from the antennas that heads toward the ground. Beneath the mesh are small buildings called shelters for the radio transmitters. All of these elements are linked together to act as one giant transmitting antenna with an effective radiated power (ERP) of 3.6 million watts, making it the world's largest radio broadcasting station.

HAARP TIMELINE

Dr. Bernard J. Eastlund received the first of his three patents for a HAARP-like "Method And Apparatus For Altering A Region In The Earth's Atmosphere, Ionosphere, And/Or Magnetosphere" (US Patent Number 4,686,605) on 11 August, 1987, while working for the ARCO subsidiary APTI. It was but the first of a dozen related patents that scientists on APTI's payroll would take out over the next few years.

Officially, however, HAARP was conceived on the morning of 13 December 1989, when a joint Navy-Air Force meeting was held at the Office of Naval Research (ONR) in Washington, D.C. It has since been described as a discussion of their mutual interest in carrying out a Department of Defense (DoD) program in the area of ionospheric modification. Military and HAARP documents insist that it was at this meeting that the "need" for a unique heating facility to conduct "critical experiments" relating to potential DoD applications was "identified."

The official tale of the birth of HAARP claims that the Navy and Air Force personnel at that after-breakfast meeting at ONR decided to bring the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in on the project. Consequently, Navy and Air Force 08personnel trooped over to DARPA later that day to present their proposal for a DoD sponsored program. As well as representatives of DARPA, people from the Office of the Defense Director of Research & Engineering (DDR&E) were also present at that second meeting of the day.

This led to an Ionospheric Modification/ELF Workshop held the following month at NUSC on 9-11 January 1990. It was attended by personnel from a number of government agencies, as well as from several universities and the private sector. The workshop was billed as providing "an opportunity for broad-based inputs concerning research needs in ionospheric modification. In addition, potential systems were defined, and the characteristics of a new, unique, HF heating facility were discussed and identified."

In a year's time the project moved off of the drawing boards and into reality. The Appropriation Act for Fiscal Year (FY) 1990 provided funds for the creation of HAARP, jointly managed by the Air Force Research Laboratory and the Office of Naval Research. Three contracts were awarded to ARCO Power Technologies (APTI) to begin feasibility studies in 1991. In 1992 the principal contract to begin construction was awarded, also to APTI.

Early November 1993 the United States Air Force announced, via press release, that the prime contractor on the HAARP program was Arco Power Technologies, Incorporated, (APTI) owner of the patents of Eastlund and other APTI scientists.

Initial prototype construction began at the Gakona, Alaska site in late 1993 and was completed a year later in late '94. During that time APTI bailed on the project and mysteriously sold it to a major defense contractor, E-Systems of Dallas, Texas.

The following year, 1995, Raytheon bought E-Systems and all the APTI patents they held. That same year Congress budgeted $10 million for HAARP for FY 1996 under "Counterproliferation - Advanced Development" spending. In the FY 1997 Descriptive Summary of the Counterproliferation Advanced Development Budget HAARP appears under the sub-heading "Project P539 Counterforce." There it is recorded that "In FY96, Congress added $10 Million to be used for the High-Frequency Acoustic [sic] Auroral Research Program (HAARP) to this project." Elsewhere in that report it states "...in FY96 only, the Congressionally added HAARP program funds will be used to explore the ability of auroral transmissions to detect and locate underground structures of the type where WMD [Weapons of Mass Destruction] can be developed or stored."

The HAARP final ionospheric research instrument (FIRI) was planned to be a field of 180 antennas arranged in a rectangular grid of 12 rows by 15 columns. Initially a smaller set of elements was constructed so that the predicted performance could be verified before the entire facility is built. That initial phase of the program was called the Developmental Prototype (DP). By April of 1995 the DP array of 48 antenna towers arranged as 8 columns by 6 rows had been completed. Thirty additional unpowered and unused towers were also erected at that time.

The first round of tests of the DP was in April 1995. More start-up tests were conducted in July and November of 1995, while tests of the aircraft detection radar were conducted in September of that year. The aircraft alert radar (AAR) is intended to automatically shut off "appropriate transmissions" when aircraft are detected within, or approaching a "safety zone" established around the HAARP site.

HAARP documents claim that the facility was shut down at the end of the last set of initial low power tests on the DP on 21 November, 1995. Officially, no testing was conducted from that time until the HAARP facility was at last put to scientific use for the first time, over a year later. A two week flurry of scientific research activity, called a "campaign," took place from 27 February to 14 March, 1997. In addition to science experiments, this two week period included several visits from tour groups; participation in a lecture series by HAARP personnel at the nearby community college; a public talk on ionospheric research and the HAARP facility; and the first HAARP-Amateur radio listening test.

During the early part of the August 1997 testing period several experiments were performed with the NASA WIND satellite which was at a favorable position in its orbit.

The third annual HAARP Open House was held 23-24 August, 1997. Program personnel were present to discuss the project and to give demonstrations and tours of the facility. Several experts in ionospheric physics were also present to discuss the research plans and the physics of the earth's upper atmosphere.

They wanted to finish erecting the FIRI by 2002 but got their budget slashed. It appears that the in-coming President, George W. Bush, was more concerned with his anti-missile missile defense program than with ionospheric research, or exotic electromagnetic weapons research, depending on which HAARP really is, and killed HAARP's funding for the first two years of his administration.

Initially HAARP was jointly managed by ONR and the Air Force's Phillips Laboratory in Massachusetts. In 2002 Project Management of HAARP was transferred to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). It would seem that DARPA was brought in to whip the project into shape. According to the official DARPA webpage for HAARP their portion of the project has now been completed and HAARP is being "transitioned" back to the Air Force and Navy in FY2006.

Per the official DARPA fact sheet:

"The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is the central research and development organization for the Department of Defense (DoD). It manages and directs selected basic and applied research and development projects for DoD, and pursues research and technology where risk and payoff are both very high and where success may provide dramatic advances for traditional military roles and missions."

There are eight technical offices in DARPA. HAARP came under The Tactical Technology Office (TTO). According to their fact sheet:

"The Tactical Technology Office engages in high-risk, high-payoff advanced technology development of military systems, emphasizing the "system" and "subsystem" approach to the development of Unmanned Systems, Space Systems and Tactical Multipliers."

DARPA's official word on HAARP, as of 3/9/06 is:

"The High Frequency Active Auroral Research Project (HAARP) developed new experimental research capabilities and conducted research programs to exploit emerging ionosphere and radio science technologies related to advanced defense applications. The FY 1990 Appropriation Act provided funds for the creation of HAARP, jointly managed by the Air

Force Research Laboratory and the Office of Naval Research to exploit emerging ionosphere and high power radio technology for new military systems applications. Key to the current effort was the expansion of the experimental research facility that includes a 3.6 MW high-frequency transmitter and a variety of diagnostic instruments, to conduct investigations to characterize the physical processes that can be initiated and controlled in the ionosphere and space, via interactions with high power radio waves.

Among these were:

(1) the generation of extremely low frequency/very low frequency radio waves for submarine and other subsurface communication, and the reduction of charged particle populations in the radiation belts to ensure safe spacecraft systems operations;

(2) the control of electron density gradients and the refractive

properties in selected regions of the ionosphere

to create radio wave propagation channels; and

(3) the generation of optical and infrared emissions in space to calibrate space sensors. To date, the facility has been developed to include a suite of optical and radio diagnostics and an advanced, modern, high frequency transmitting array that has a radiated power of 960 kW, about one-third of the 3.6MW called for in the original concept and plan.

The current high frequency transmitting array has proven to be extremely reliable and flexible, and has shown the feasibility of the overall concept. However, results to date have indicated that the advanced applications-related research activities and new military system concept demonstrations envisioned under the program require that the high frequency transmitting capability at the site be increased from the present 960 kW level to the originally planned 3.6 MW level.

A study completed by an Air Force/Navy Panel also pointed to additional high-value functions that can potentially be accomplished with the a 3.6 MW capability, in particular, the exploration and refinement of scientific principles that could lead to the development and deployment of a system to provide protection for spacebased assets from emergent asymmetric threats. DARPA established an MOA with the Air Force and Navy for this program in November 2002. The HAARP technology is transitioning to the Air Force and Navy in FY 2006.

"Program Plans

* Completed the HAARP high frequency transmitting array at the HAARP Research Station, Gakona, AK.

* Prepared the existing HAARP facility in preparation for ionospheric testing.

* Conducted advanced ionosphere and radio science research and analysis of applications including space-based asset protection and phenomena related to its implementation."

Not only was Dr. Meth in charge of HAARP, he also manages programs called Air Laser and MAgneto Hydrodynamic Explosive Munition (MAHEM)! Does it seem odd to you that a guy running a lazar development program and designing some kind of bomb would also be tinkering with how the top of the atmosphere reacts to radio waves?

DARPA signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Air Force and Navy to run this program for them in November 2002. On 17 February 2003 a Press Release went out announcing that BAE Systems North America had reached a definitive agreement with Advanced Power Technologies, Inc. (APTI), to purchase the corporation for $27 million in cash (note that somewhere along the line the "A" in APTI changed from "ARCO" to "Advanced"). That Press Release has since been deleted from BAE's website. Details on this purchase have completely vanished from the Internet. I called a spokesperson at APTI and got very little information. Indeed, when I asked about HAARP the poor fellow had never heard of it - or so he claimed!

After purchasing APTI BAE Systems then owned the intellectual property, the patents, that make HAARP possible. When HAARP's funding was resumed they automatically got the contract. This is important evidence that HAARP is a ground-based weapons systems, as laid out in those patents, as has been discussed in several books on HAARP, including mine.

One year and two months after purchasing APTI, BAE Systems announced that they had received a contract from the Navy for $35 Million to complete the HAARP Program. In a Press Release dated 10 June 2004, BAE Systems proclaimed:

"The Office of Naval Research has awarded BAE Systems a $35.4 million contract to manufacture 132 high frequency (HF) transmitters for installation in the High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program's (HAARP) phased array antenna system. The contract was finalized April 19 with BAE Systems Information & Electronic Warfare Systems in Washington, D. C."

BAE Systems lost no time in farming out the HAARP contract. Five days after getting the job from the Navy they sub-contracted it to DRS Technologies.

"DRS TECHNOLOGIES RECEIVES $23.3 MILLION CONTRACT TO PROVIDE HIGH-FREQUENCY RADIO TRANSMITTERS FOR U.S. GOVERNMENT

"Parsippany, NJ, June 15 -- DRS Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: DRS) announced today that it has received a $23.3 million contract, including options, to provide high-frequency (HF) radio transmitters for the High-Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP), which supports a U. S. government Arctic research facility being built to study the Earth's upper atmosphere.

"The $11.5 million base contract was awarded to DRS by BAE Systems PLC (LSE: BA. L). For this award, DRS will manufacture more than 60 Model D616G 10-Kilowatt Dual Transmitters to fulfill the transmitter requirements for the HAARP program. Work for this order will be performed by the company's DRS Broadcast Technology unit in Dallas, Texas. Product deliveries to BAE Systems' Information and Electronic Warfare Systems in Washington, D.C., are scheduled to begin in March 2005 and continue for approximately one year.

"We are pleased to continue our role as a premier supplier of transmitters for the HAARP program," said Steven T. Schorer, president of DRS's C4I Group. "This award enhances DRS's position as a leader in high-technology radio frequency solutions for secure and tactical communications systems supporting the applications of the government scientific research community."

"The high-frequency or short-wave Model D616G Transmitters were designed specifically for the U. S. government HAARP research facility. Currently, the ionosphere provides long-range capabilities for commercial ship-to-shore communications, transoceanic aircraft links, and military communications and surveillance systems.

"A primary goal of HAARP is to understand how variations in the sun's radiation affect the performance of radio systems and to improve military command, control, communications and surveillance systems.

"DRS Broadcast Technology, formerly known as Continental Electronics, is a global leader in broadcast transmitter equipment. It is the foremost supplier of advanced radio frequency transmission technology and the world's most experienced provider of the highest power radio broadcast equipment, offering a full range of products for broadcasting, military and scientific applications.

"DRS Technologies, headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey, provides leading edge products and services to defense, government intelligence and commercial customers. Focused on defense technology, DRS develops and manufactures a broad range of mission critical systems. The company employs 5,800 people worldwide."

So, what do the spokesfolks at HAARP say they are doing now? From the HAARP website:

"Since March 1999, when the current 960 kW power capability became available, approximately 7-10 research campaigns have been conducted annually at the Gakona facility. Research periods are scheduled throughout the year; however, specific research areas are studied optimally during certain seasons. For example, the detection of optical emissions is best studied during the winter when clear, dark skies are frequent. Two such campaigns were conducted during 2002 and 2003. Extended research campaigns were conducted during the summers of 2002 and 2003 to observe and characterize the seasonal occurrence of an upper atmospheric phenomenon called Polar Mesospheric Summer Echoes (PMSE) that occurs only at high latitudes in the summer."

This infrequently up-dated site seldom reflects when the array is in use. Usually the site does not mention such use until months, or even years after, and then usually in very vague terms. As I write this, the site claims the last time the IRI was in use was November of 2003. Independent researchers have established that the site was in near daily use in 2005, however. As best anyone can tell the technicians spent the days wiring up the new transmitters and antennae, then spent several hours each night broadcasting to check the quality of the workmanship and equipment.

So, that is where HAARP is today, a $300 million dollar plus "upper atmospheric and solar-terrestrial physics" observatory -- that may or may not also be a whole lot more.

Even if HAARP is exactly what it says it is, is that something good? A key DoD document defines HAARP saying:

"The heart of the program will be the development of a unique ionospheric heating capability to conduct the pioneering experiments required to adequately assess the potential for exploiting ionospheric enhancement technology for DOD purposes."

Let's break that down. Technically HAARP is a type of device called an ionospheric heater because injecting all that radio frequency energy (3.6 billions watts) into the atmosphere heats it up. The big difference between HAARP and the dozen or so other ionospheric heaters in the world is that HAARP, based on the Eastlund/APTI patents is a uniquely designed phased antenna array. This phasing, or sequencing of the firing of the transmitters/antenna field allows for the focusing ability that sets HAARP apart from its peers. If used for over-the-horizon surveillance it would also have made HAARP a violation of the ABM Treaty, which was still in effect when work on HAARP began, and may be the real reason for the military's calling HAARP a civilian science project in the first place.

Heating the atmosphere changes it, so you can make it do things. In this case the amount of heating literally blows the molecules of the air apart. That is what is meant by "ionospheric enhancement." You have to love the use of the word enhancement -- only the military would think that breaking something makes it better! This heating to the point where the molecules are blown apart causes it to give off a "scream" of extremely low frequency (ELF) radio waves that penetrate deep into the earth and deep into the seas.

The project was initially funded specifically to do this: to use this ionospherically generated ELF to communicate with deeply submerged submarines and to engage in something earth penetrating tomography to target and monitor enemy underground bases for the manufacture and launch of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). This heating also turns the "excited region" into a plasma (an electrically charged gas) that goes out into space, possibly destroying anything ! electronic (like an ICBM or a spy satellite) that passes through it.

It also changes the shape and radio wave bounce characteristics of the ionosphere, effectively jamming some radio communications channels.

And what are DoD purposes? Why, to win wars! to make new weapons or to make existing weapons and personal more effective (which is called a force multiplier). So, simply put, what this quote says is that the DoD wants to know if they can use this technology to turn the atmosphere into a weapon, or use it to improve existing weapons.

As I have been asking for almost a decade now, is weaponizing the atmosphere a good idea? What about unintended and unexpected consequences? What happens when the enemy responds in kind? And why is it that the mainstream press is so silent on these issues?

Jerry E. Smith