Paris Air Show: RT LTA to present the Skystar 180 Aerostat system

RT LTA Systems Ltd, a world-class designer, developer, and manufacturer of the SkyStar™ family of aerostats for use in intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and communications applications, will present a complete system of the Skystar 180 at the Paris air show.

The Skystar 180 system that will be presented is integrated with an SES rapid communication vehicle, which allows communication between the aerostat and the command and control center in any given area. By connecting to SES’s satellite, the video recorded by the aerostat can be sent immediately to any given place worldwide.  

The Skystar 180 is a small sized, mobile aerostat designed for tactical mid-range surveillance and public safety, as well as for police and military applications. The Skystar systems has already accomplished more than 1 million operational hours worldwide, offering availability of over 85% in any given area.

Based on a towable trailer, the system has a stabilized day/night electro-optical payload suspended from a helium filled aerostat, tethered to a ground system. It operates continuously at wind velocity of up to 40 knots, and can lift a payload of up to 20kg, providing surveillance coverage from an altitude of up to 1,000 ft. for up to 72 hours, after which it is brought down for a 20-minute helium refill. Only 2 people are required to fully maintain the system.

Skystar 180 is ideal for border control and protection, and is being used continuously in Israel by the IDF on the Israeli borders. The system is being used by many different clients worldwide for the same purpose of border and base-camp protection. The Skystar 180 aerostat system is also optimal for Home Land Security uses such as securing massive public event and strategic infrastructures. For such purposes, the Skystar 180 system was in use during the Winter Olympic Games in Canada, during the FIFA World Cup in Brazil, securing the Copacabana Fan Fest, and during the Paris climate summit (COP 21) in France, protecting the world leaders who attended the summit. In 2014, the Skystar 180 system was chosen to be one of the approved technologies for purchase in the annual AEWE (Army Expeditionary Warrior Experiment) conducted by the US Army.

Rami Shmueli, RT’s CEO: “The Skystar 180 is a cost-effective solution for defense and HLS missions such as border protection, strategic infrastructure security and public safety, as it provides persistent surveillance over long periods of time at a very minimal cost. RT’s Skystar systems are currently deployed in many different countries worldwide, and have already accomplished more than 1 million operational hours worldwide. We are honoured to team up with SES and present the Skystar 180 system at the Paris Air Show”.

“Skystar 180 system is one of the key elements of the Tactical Persistent Surveillance system, SES’s fully integrated portable surveillance and communications solution designed to provide enhanced situational awareness for border security, special event monitoring and disaster response missions,” said Nicole Robinson, Vice President, Global Government at SES Networks. “TPS brings together advanced surveillance and communications technologies to help governments around the world address these challenges more rapidly and cost effectively than before.”

The Skystar 180 aerostat will be presented at SES’s stand: Static display, Booth B4.

About RT LTA Systems Ltd.

RT LTA Systems Ltd. is a world-class designer, developer, and manufacturer of the Skystar™ family of aerostats for use in intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and communications applications. Skystar is a self-contained, versatile, easily transportable, cost-effective tactical system comprised of a ground control station, a ground system module, a tether, a lighter-than-air platform, a stabilized payload platform, and a sensor suite.

RT LTA was chosen as one of the 5 most influential companies in the field of aerostats, according to the Market and Markets survey. The Skystar systems already accomplished more than 1 million operational hours worldwide, and are currently operational in various military and civilian missions in many different countries.

RT LTA Systems was established by former military intelligence and current CEO Rami Shmueli, Who served as the head of the aerostats department in the IDF. The company headquarters and production lines are based in Yavne, Israel, and its American subsidiary company, RT Aerostat Systems, is located in Texas.

At July 2016 RT established a subsidiary company named “Aero-T”, which specializes in the development and manufacture of large aerostats. Aero-T’s first product, the SkyGuard1, is a large aerostat in a Blimp shape, which can carry payloads of up to 90 kg, reach altitudes of up to 1,000 meters, and operate continuously for 7 days without maintenance.

About SES

SES is the world-leading satellite operator and the first to deliver a differentiated and scalable GEO-MEO offering worldwide, with more than 50 satellites in Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) and 12 in Medium Earth Orbit (MEO). SES focuses on value-added, end-to-end solutions in two key business units: SES Video and SES Networks. The company provides satellite communications services to broadcasters, content and internet service providers, mobile and fixed network operators, governments and institutions. SES’s portfolio includes the ASTRA satellite system, which has the largest Direct-to-Home (DTH) television reach in Europe, O3b Networks, a global managed data communications service provider, and MX1, a leading media service provider that offers a full suite of innovative digital video and media services. Further information available at: www.ses.com