Bresnahan visits Tobyhanna Army Depot ahead of $68M radar expansion

U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan Jr. visited Tobyhanna Army Depot ahead of the planned expansion of its radar campus.

Bresnahan, a Republican representing the 8th District of Pennsylvania, took a tour on Jan. 15 along with media.

According to information provided by the depot, the two-phase expansion of the depot’s radar test range “will increase capacity and capability to 3 radomes and 15 distinct pads” from its current five radar test sites with eight distinct pads.

The first phase of the project will take place in 2026 and will install “an additional radome, test pads, control center, and data network infrastructure.” The $68 million project is a part of the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, which Bresnahan voted for.

The second phase of the project will take place in 2030 and will “install a new tower and associated infrastructure at a much farther distance” that would enable more accurate calibration for the radar.

Tobyhanna Army Depot Commander Col. Benjamin Kilgore said that expansion would make their radar range the largest “in the continental United States.”

According to the information the depot provided, the depot has 3,016 personnel, and nearly 25% of the workforce has prior military experience.

“Just seeing the caliber and capability of the workforce and how dedicated they are to their craft is always something that really touches home,” said Bresnahan. “You can’t talk to someone in northeastern Pennsylvania that has not had an aunt, an uncle, a family member, a father or grandfather that has somehow been affiliated to a family-sustaining career right here in Tobyhanna Army Depot.”

Bresnahan said that he loves “the new construction that’s gonna take place, and obviously working towards the fact that we will be the largest radar, most sophisticated testing location in the continental United States hopefully in the near future.”

“This is our only army depot inside of Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District, so obviously I have a loyal affinity to Tobyhanna,” said Bresnahan, adding that he feels the depot’s caliber, capabilities, and “the fact that they can deliver on what they’re assigned to do” separate it from any other army depot.

Depot leadership also showed Bresnahan the depot’s small unmanned aircraft drone space, where they make drones.