Overview
Aerostats are a cost effective and efficient way to raise a payload to a required altitude. Also known as a blimp or kite aerostat, aerostats have been in use since the early 19th century for a variety of observation purposes. The use of aerostats for signal intelligence gathering platforms has risen since 1954, when the Israelis pioneered the use of tethered aerostats as an electronic payload carrier by mounting a radar underneath an Airborne Industries aerostat. The latter half of the 20th century saw an expansion in the use of tethered aerostats as electronic platforms, and today it is common practice to have radar-equipped models in use.
Typical payloads include: day & night cameras; surveillance radars; VHF and UHF repeaters; and TV and radio transmitters.
Aerostats are designed to maximize operations in most weathers, and work equally well in both tropical and arctic conditions. They are helium filled and can be made in almost any size and to the client’s specific requirements.
A complete system of the tethered aerostat supplied by Lindstrand Technologies Ltd consists of:
- Aerostat
- Mooring Station
- Winch and tether cable
- Control system and health monitoring
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