Tel Aviv: Israeli company RT LTA Systems has unveiled its innovative mobile aerostat platforms. According to the company, its persistent, elevated surveillance and communications solutions provide 360-degree coverage over vast areas, delivering real-time intelligence, early warning alerts and enhanced situational awareness.
RT LTA says that its aerostats systems are designed for extreme weather conditions, and prioritise multi-domain versatility and user-friendliness—critical factors when securing a nation’s extensive borders. Each aerostat system consists of a ground control station, a ground system module, a tether, a lighter-than-air platform, a stabilised payload platform and an advanced sensor suite.
The systems can be rapidly deployed by a small crew, making them ideal for border security missions. RT LTA’s systems support a variety of payloads, including radars, COMINT/ELINT modules, electro-optical (EO) and infrared (IR) cameras, as well as communications equipment, ensuring high adaptability for various mission types and seamless interoperability with other field assets, such as UAVs, drones and ground forces.
RT LTA’s Skystar tactical aerostats provide high mobility and cost efficiency, carrying diverse payloads at altitudes of up to 1,500 feet. The larger, blimp-shaped Skyguard aerostat family can reach up to 20,000 feet, ensuring comprehensive surveillance across expansive geographic areas.
RT LTA’s systems have consistently proven their reliability and adaptability across a wide range of environments, from deserts and mountains to maritime settings, offering 24/7 surveillance and communications, even in the harshest conditions.
A standout among RT’s offerings is its compact tactical aerostat mounted on an ATV. This configuration, according to the company is engineered for real-time reconnaissance across rugged terrains, and with rapid deployment and manoeuvrability both on- and off-road, the system can markedly improve flexibility and efficiency for border security operations. This unique system can be operated locally or remotely – from the site or from a distance – supporting EO/IR cameras and communication payloads at altitudes up to 1,500 feet, with real-time data transmission to command and control centres.
According to the company, this robust aerostat solution is easily transportable and operable with minimal training by a small team. The system offers medium-range surveillance capabilities, with swift assembly and launch within 15 minutes. Control is effortlessly managed through a handheld personal control system, making it an ideal choice for diverse surveillance missions.
Rami Shmueli, RT LTA’s CEO said that the highly mobile and versatile systems are designed to address the evolving challenges of the US Southern Border and beyond.
“With our Texas-based subsidiary, we are well-positioned to equip US border security agencies with state-of-the-art ISR solutions,” he added.
-The writer is an Israel-based freelance journalist. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
