Israeli aerostat specialist RT LTA is co-operating with satellite operator SES to demonstrate a surveillance system that can relay imagery to anywhere in the world. The system is being shown on the SES stand (B4).
RT LTA is highlighting its popular Skystar 180 aerostat, which can lift stabilized electro-optical payloads of up to 20 kg (44 b) to an altitude of up to 305 m (1,000 ft). Able to operate in wind up to 40 knots, the aerostat can stay aloft for 72 hours, after which it requires a refill of helium. Only two people are required to operate it.
In the SES collaboration, the Skystar 180 is paired with an SES rapid communication vehicle that permits communication between the aerostat and command/control center. Video imagery can be streamed live to anywhere by connecting to SES’s satellite.
RT LTA’s Skystar aerostats have amassed more than 1 million operational hours around the world, and have provided security at several key events, such as in Brazil during the FIFA World Cup, in Canada for the Winter Olympic Games, and during the COP 21 climate summit held in Paris. The Skystar 180 is in continuous use with the Israel Defense Forces for border surveillance, while other forces and agencies use the aerostat for base protection and other security tasks. In 2014 the Skystar 180 was one of the systems approved for purchase in the U.S. Army’s annual Army Expeditionary Warrior Experiment (AEWE).