| Army Space and Missile Defense Battle Lab in Partnership with SkySentry Launches New Aerostat | |
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Next generation aerial surveillance platform advances technologies for persistent high altitude operation and provides ground responders with unmatched video and communication capabilities to triage disaster situations SOUTH BOSTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Battle Lab (SMDBL) in Colorado Springs, CO takes its high altitude research and development mission seriously. They launched and dedicated their newest aerial surveillance aerostat platform in South Boston, Virginia this week. The Army is using this low altitude vehicle to advance the complex technologies needed to ultimately reach their mission of persistent surveillance at high altitudes for the warfighter. If you are within 20 miles of South Boston, Virginia you may sight this newest addition to the Battle Lab’s family of aerostats. This Heavy Lift Long Endurance Aerostat is the most advanced and largest at 83 feet in length, 28 feet in diameter and holds 28,000 cubic feet of helium. The balloon is moored to a gantry and flies tethered to 3000 ft above ground level, providing critical video and communications to ground responders. This latest newborn is operated by long time partner of the Battle Lab, SkySentry, LLC out of Falcon, Colorado http://www.skysentry.net/ . Widely acknowledged as a national leader in the development of high altitude technologies and operations, SkySentry announced the acceptance of the aerostat for the Army this week. In addition to the primary mission of seeking high altitude through methodical advances in surveillance, communications, power and propulsion, the Army SMDC also authorized the aerostat for lower altitude operations. It can be immediately commissioned to provide communications and surveillance for emergency responders, environmental studies, law enforcement and homeland security. State-of-the-art payloads from various partners are being tested through April. Tests include a radar system to detect targets at long range and cue high resolution cameras of IEC Infrared, Cleveland, Ohio http://www.iecinfrared.com/. A network cellular communications payload provided by Western DataCom, Westlake, Ohio http://www.western-data.com/, will pass surveillance data to Operations Centers and operational participants. Companies interested in advancing high altitude technologies for the Army; customers interested in immediately using the aerostat system for surveillance and communication; or, companies interested in the capabilities of the family of aerostats should contact SkySentry President Charlie Lambert at 719-495-7856. Contacts SkySentry |