AEWE Experimental Flights

blimpAEROSTAT BACKGROUND:

  • Supports a 250 lb payload up to 3000 ft
  • Provides 800W AC power to a payload for 8 hours
  • Capable of a 3000′ ceiling with 3 mile visibility
  • Limited to 10-13 kts winds for launch and recovery

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

  • A brigade asset and an enabler for the network
  • Mitigation of attenuation effect of terrain and vegetation by operating above the tree line, critical to connectivity of the dismounted Soldier
  • Support of Spiral E advance case experiments
  • Increased communications range allowing ground units to move in a more decentralized manner

EVENT:

Army Expeditionary Warrior Experiment (AEWE)
Spiral E, Ft. Benning Georgia, Oct – Dec 2008

ARMY SPONSOR:

Experiences in Spiral E and previous spiral experiments highlight the requirement for an aerial Advantaged Node at the battalion level with the flexibility to support the company or even platoon fight.

  • Provide wide area, high altitude (above the tree line) retransmission for the Enhanced Position Location Reporting System (EPLRS) digital network.
  • Perform surveillance of the surrounding terrain (steerable video or geo-reference still imagery). In Spiral E, this capability was demonstrated, but not fully leveraged by the Experimental Force (EXFOR) 

AEROSTAT/EPLRS LESSONS LEARNED:

  • Deployed prior to the Platoon moving out to ensure stable communications once objectives were reached.
  • Command and control issues with EXFOR UAS at lower altitudes (e.g. 500’ AGL due to wind conditions, UAS had to maintain standoff from the Aerostat).
  • Dense vegetation degraded line-of-sight communications on the ground to less than 100 meters.
  • Weather can ground and degrade the quality and connectivity of terrestrial communications.
  • The Warfighter needs an aerial Advantaged Node to support digital network operations, while advantageous, the platform requires additional development.
  • Signature and cue to any enemy with Line of Sight (LOS) to the Aerostat is vulnerable to both direct and indirect fire, again indicating need for further support and development.

Contact:

Doug Miller,
Doug.Miller@SkySentry.net
501-282-0167