HELIKITE AEROSTATS FOR DEFENCE & SECURITY
Tactical Aerostats
Helikites, are not blimps. Helikites are semi-rigid and exploit powerful wind lift as well as helium, so a Helikites of only 11 cubic metres can fly thousands of feet high in no wind, or in in gale force winds, and can stay at high altitude unattended for weeks.
Launched within 20 minutes, a 14ft long, 11 cubic metre (385cu feet) Military Skyhook Helikite carrying gyro-stabilised pan/tilt/zoom video camera can provide continuous, long-term aerial surveillance over many miles. Manpower needed is just one. Running costs are minimal.
Unlike many balloons and blimps, Helikite aerostats offer a very stable and solid aerial platform for payloads like cameras and transceivers.
Helikite Airborne Communications System (HACS)
High Altitude Network Radios = Long Range Comms
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One man plus HACS provides 7,800 SqKm radio coverage. More than a 300 man signals regiment!
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HACS provides both combat net and long-range trunk comms in a single unit.
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HACS lifts network radios up to 1000ft within 15 minutes in all weathers. Air-mobile worldwide.
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Long operational range means that HACS is far more survivable than traditional masts and trucks.
Long Range Unmanned Vehicle Communications
The major limiting factor for the deployment of unmanned vehicle of all types is the lack of over the horizon communications. For UGV's, USV's and UUV's, this is particularly acute, because when attempting to control them the operator soon discovers that high data rate digital communcations, required for sending video from the unmanned vehicle, do not go through hills or over the horizon. This limits their maximum range to only a few miles at best. UAV's compensate for this line-of-sight problem by flying higher as they go further away. However, this means that they need to be far bigger and have extremely expensive cameras in order to observe the ground in detail.
Lifting radio repeaters on Helikites overcomes the radio line-of-sight problem very well. Unmanned vehicles can then be easily controlled from scores of miles away. Helikites are ideally suited to this, because their flight duration is very similar to the operational duration of unmanned vehicle and they can provide the massive bandwidth required for streaming video. Video comms makes all the difference when controlling any unmanned system. Satelites cannot do this for small vehicles.
Helikites have been successfully used to relay to unmanned boats at sea on a number of Royal Navy unmanned vehicle exercises with great success and with no operational problems.
Border Control
Helikites have been used around the globe by military and border security services for decades. Their all-weather capability is highly appreciated.
With border surveillance protection more important than ever before, Helikite surveillance systems offer an affordable, all-weather, day-night, solution that is economical enough to be fielded permanently. Helikite systems provide surveillance over large areas of tough terrain, enabling the tracking of unauthorized personnel, smugglers, illegal immigrants or hostile forces.
Aerial Surveillance
Helikites have been used around the globe by military and border security services for decades. Their all-weather capability is highly appreciated.
With border surveillance protection more important than ever before, Helikite surveillance systems offer an affordable, all-weather, day-night, solution that is economical enough to be fielded permanently. Helikite systems provide surveillance over large areas of tough terrain, enabling the tracking of unauthorized personnel, smugglers, illegal immigrants or hostile forces.
Aerostat Radar Systems
Radar only covers the limited line of sight (horizon) on shipborne and coastal radars. Line of sight is the straight path between a transmitting antenna (as for radio or television signals) and a receiving antenna when unobstructed by the horizon. Radar come in a variety of configurations in the emitter, the receiver, the antenna, wavelength and scan strategies. Helikites are steady enough to allow radars to function well and adding a substantial distance to the line of sight.
A radar lifted to 5,000 ft on a military Helikite helium balloon aerostat system will have a direct line of sight of 100 miles compared to only 10-20 miles from a ships mast or clifftop. This is gives an advantage to identifying fixed or moving targets as well as navigation tools to identify and avoid obstacles
A radar was successfully used on the Irish Frigate LÉ Eithne using a 64m3 Desert Star Helikite launched from the helicopter deck. This undertook successful trials in the Irish Sea. LÉ Eithne. is a Helicopter patrol vessel, she was designed to carry helicopters and is the only naval vessel with a flight deck. She is the flagship of the Irish Navy.
Various different types of radar can be lifted for spotting ships, boats and other objects at sea. Other uses include airborne early warning radar for aircraft, missiles and drones. Over land airborne radar can detect people and vehicles.