Hovering systems or aerostats?

Hovering systems or aerostats?

Aerostat - אילוסטרציה

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Aerostat - Illustration
Aerostat – Illustration

The recent developments in hovering systems raises the question about the future of aerostat use for defense and security missions. The new breed of hovering tethered platforms is something else and that fact raises the still unanswered question.

Israeli defense industries have identified the need for hovering systems and are putting a great deal of effort into introducing new, more advanced ones. With some types already “off the shelf”, marketing is in full swing.

Israel aerospace industries (IAI) is making a big effort to penetrate the U.S market for hovering intelligence gathering platforms. Stark Aerospace, a U.S subsidiary of IAI has late last year unveiled the HoverLite tactical tethered hovering aerial ISR system

The systems has been developed as part of a rapid research and development effort sponsored by the Combating Terrorism Technical Support Office (CTTSO). According to Stark, HoverLite provides exceptional asymmetric observation and surveillance capabilities supporting military, homeland security and civilian missions for pop-up surveillance, border patrol, crowd monitoring, and emergency rapid response missions.

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HoverLite

According to the U.S subsidiary of IAI, HoverLite is capable of rising to a height of 165 ft. in about 15 seconds. It is secured by a tether providing power and bi-directional signals to and from the aerial platform and its payload. HoverLite can be operated on the move and broadcasts ISR products to users on the network or local with no signature.

The platform is capable of carrying any payload of up to 13.2 lbs. HoverLite is suitable for a wide range of small platforms including pick-up trucks, ATVs, UGVs/USVs (unmanned ground /surface vehicles), boats, communication vehicles, etc.

Aerostats will still be the carriers of big payloads like long range detection radars but the war between them and hovering platforms is on in some sections of the battle field.

It seems that in the coming years both types of systems will live side by side. But there is no doubt that while the big aerostats that carry very heavy payloads will be used for years to come. But at the same time the hovering systems will gradually replace the small and medium size aerostats.