Israel Orders Additional Skystar 300 Surveillance Aerostats

Israeli government has placed orders for additional Skystar 300 surveillance aerostats; the Jerusalem Post quoted unnamed sources at RT LTA as saying.

The aerostat is attached to a ground station by a tethering cable that transmits power, data and two-way communications. The aerostat can rise to an altitude of 460 meters and carries day and night electro-optical payloads for surveillance video feeds. It can also carry anti improvised explosive device capabilities, as well as communications transmitters that can be used for multiple functions.

The systems are operated by the Israeli Defense Forces' (IDF) Combat Intelligence Collections Corps unit, which can deploy them within six hours' notice, and keep them operational for three days, before bringing the aerostat down for a helium refill.

It takes just two weeks of training for soldiers to become familiar with the system.

RT's Skystar 180 balloon successfully completed the annual Army Expeditionary Warrior Experiment (AEWE), a lengthy process used to shortlist defense products for US acquisition.