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Raven Aerostar successfully integrated and deployed a Vista Research Smart Sensing Radar System (SSRS) onto its proprietary TIF-25KH tethered aerostat. Vista Research, a leading provider of surveillance systems, enhances the effectiveness of radars through sophisticated algorithms. The complete aerostat-radar system offers unprecedented lift capabilities, range detection and tracking performance.
“The integration of Raven Aerostar’s TIF-25KH and SSRS is another step forward in our mission to provide more complete, low-cost situational awareness for our users. Our new innovative solution takes the best of Raven Aerostar’s 56-year history in aerospace platforms and integrates it with Vista’s 27-year history in sensor technology. Together, Raven Aerostar becomes a total solution provider for situational awareness, aiding in life saving missions in war zones and along borders,” said Lon Stroschein, Aerostar division vice president and general manager.
The TIF-25KH tethered aerostat is made from Aerostar’s revolutionary High Strength Laminated Aerostat Material (HSLAM), which Aerostar has been evaluating since August 2010. HSLAM decreases operational costs by retaining helium 35% more effectively than standard aerostat materials. HSLAM also provides additional lift while maintaining the same size platform, as it is lighter than and nearly twice as strong as Aerostar’s traditional aerostat material. Upgrading from the TIF-25K to the TIF-25KH envelope allows for the deployment of additional payload requirements; user payload capacity increases 51% when carried to 3,000 feet above sea level.
“Aerostar remains committed to developing products and technology that expand strategic capabilities and increase value for our customers,” commented Scott Wickersham, Aerostar’s Director of Product Development. “With a portfolio of HSLAM aerostat sizes available, Aerostar offers options for a smaller footprint, reduced helium consumption, increased payloads and lengthened flight duration.”
Aerostar is a provider of tethered aerostats to the U.S government; the company’s systems are currently being used for force protection in Afghanistan under Operation Enduring Freedom. Most recently, Aerostar deployed in Nogales, Ariz. for the Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection component to help detect, identify and track individuals suspected of illegal activity along the U.S. border.
