LIGHTWEIGHT AEROSTAT SYSTEM (LAS) A New Concept In Security Surveillance and Communications Relay

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1 LIGHTWEIGHT AEROSTAT SYSTEM (LAS) A New Concept In Security Surveillance and Communications Relay Low Cost Long Mission Duration Minimum Manpower Carolina Unmanned Vehicles, Inc Graham-Newton Road Raleigh, NC Technical point of contract: Michael E. Rogers Project Manager (919) , (919) FAX merogers@carolinaunmanned.com Administrative point of contact: Glenda L. Rogers President (919) , (919) FAX glrogers@carolinaunmanned.com Date White Paper prepared: 9 January 2009 Classification Unclassified

Lightweight Aerostat System (LAS) LAS Military Concept Paper 1.

Military missions include long term 24/7 surveillance around base camps, and communications relay to unmanned ground / air vehicles, to dispersed security posts and convoys without using scarce

Law enforcement and border security units need overhead surveillance of border crossings, airports, VIP events, etc.

2 Lightweight Aerostat System (LAS) LAS Military Concept Paper 1.0 MISSION Worldwide military / security operations reemphasize the need for a low cost, responsive, and mobile system to elevate electronic payloads up to a 300 to 1000 meters altitude. Military missions include long term 24/7 surveillance around base camps, and communications relay to unmanned ground / air vehicles, to dispersed security posts and convoys without using scarce satellite bandwidth. Critical needs include establishing temporary communications capability in emergencies such as terrorist attacks or natural disasters. Law enforcement and border security units need overhead surveillance of border crossings, airports, VIP events, etc. that is both less costly and intrusive than helicopters, while providing around the clock coverage. The most efficient means to meet these requirements is a low cost, mobile aerostat system. However, traditional aerostats are large, manpower intensive and vulnerable to adverse weather conditions. Carolina Unmanned Vehicles (CUV) has developed the Lightweight Aerostat System (LAS) that removes these limitations, creating a very cost effective system. 1.1 LAS Concept The Lightweight Aerostat System (LAS) consists of a small aerostat with aerodynamic list surfaces mounted on a trailer Carrier (Fig. 1). The LAS blimp can be flown at several hundred to thousand feet altitude to provide coverage 24 hours a day for a week or more without maintenance or downtime. Operating and maintenance cost is a fraction of using aircraft or UAVs to lift surveillance or relay payloads. LAS surveillance versions at 100 to 500 meters can cover a radius of 25 to 35 Km, depending upon terrain. LAS can elevate a communications payload up to 2000 meters, providing extended coverage out to 120Km. Off the shelf payloads include stabilized camera and IR systems, while radar, chemical detection and communication equipment can be readily adapted to the system. LAS consists of several unique components that, taken together, comprise a system far smaller and more versatile than any comparable unit. The lifting aerostat can operate in much higher winds than traditional aerostat designs, improving system utility and capability in adverse weather. Unique designs reduce the need for ground crews to handle the blimp during launch and recovery. It is carried by a HMMWV trailer and operated by a only two person crew. LAS is very mobile and cost-effective, and basic versions are already being built. Specific adaptations to new payloads can be developed and fielded in few months. 1.2 LAS Advantages LAS has significant operational advantages: Good Ground Mobility, capable of operating anywhere a HMMWV and trailer can operate; Long Mission Duration, of a week or more; Low Production Cost, from $250K to $400K for the Carrier and Helikite; Fig 1 CUV Lightweight Aerostat System HMMWV Compatible Carrier Trailer Helikite Lifting Aerostat Helirest Protective Mount Gyro Stabilized Camera Payload Networked Communications Payload Acoustic Gunfire Detectors / Other Payloads Carolina Unmanned Vehicles Page

3 LAS Military Concept Paper Very Low Manpower, requiring only two persons to launch and retrieve the system; and Very Low Deployment Requirements (Only a partial C-130 load for air transport). 2.0 LAS System Description A complete LAS system of Helikite and Carrier can be readily deployed by transport aircraft, helicopters, or towed by a HMMWV. On deployment location the blimp would be inflated and raised to its operating altitude on the tether. The blimp can be easily retrieved and stored in its Carrier for movement to another location. The entire deployment can be accomplished in under thirty minutes. An onboard generator powers the payload and winch. The helium tanks are standard commercial items also readily available in the Defense Logistic System. 2.1 Helikite The key to making LAS a very compact but versatile system is the Helikite. Developed and patented by Allsopp Helikites Ltd. of Great Britain, Helikites combine the advantages of a kite and a balloon without incurring their disadvantages. The Helikite employs small flexible fabric wings and keel attached to the body of a helium balloon, combining helium and wind lift to operate easily in high wind speeds and at a fraction of the cost and trouble compared to normal lighter-than-air designs. Why does this Helikite design make a difference? An ordinary blimp in zero wind floats straight up from its tether location, with the helium exerting an upward force and the tether an equal downward force. However, the tether cannot exert a sideward force to counteract wind forces, so traditional blimp shaped aerostats are driven into the ground by only moderate wind. The normal method to counteract wind drag and keep aerostats stable is to increase the buoyancy significantly beyond that required to lift the payload (Fig. 2). However, greater buoyancy requires a significantly larger blimp, resulting in greater cost, difficulty in ground handling and additional personnel. It is a limited solution in any event. Wind drag increases with the square of the wind speed, so very large forces can be created at medium winds. The Helikite is lighter-than-air like a balloon but is not knocked down by the wind like a normal balloon. In fact, the opposite occurs - wind actually forces a Helikite up! Wind forces on the wings and the airfoil shaped balloon generate lift to counteract the wind side force. With this force to counteract the wind drag the Helikite does not need a large buoyancy margin and we can design the LAS to use modern lightweight electronics. The LAS Helikites will be able to fly in winds up to 115 kph. Other aerostats must be considerably larger to withstand wind forces, typically with buoyant lift of 100 to 150 kilograms just for wind stability. This prevents them from taking advantage of available small payloads, and makes them large, clumsy and expensive. Helikite performance is the key that allows LAS to be very compact, use minimum helium and be operable by only two people. Compared to other aerostat systems currently in use, the typical LAS blimp is very small. For example, a 60 cubic meters Helikite lifts approximately 33Kg. but has a diameter of only 6 meters and total length of 9 meters. Fig. 2 Helikite Versus Blimp Wind pushes any Helikite to a 45 degree angle, due to their lift-to-drag ratio of one. Even small units can withstand high winds. The Helikite based LAS can be sized to available small payloads and still operate in high winds. Wind Blimp Helikite Without lift surfaces, traditional tethered blimps are pushed down by wind. Blimp based aerostat systems must be very large to cope with wind drag, creating ground handling problems and vastly increasing operating cost. They cannot capitalize on modern miniature electronic payloads. Carolina Unmanned Vehicles Page

Standard / Stealth Helikite Survivability Fig. 3 LAS is Highly Survivable Standard White on White Helikite Is Difficult to Detect.

MANPADS Helium Will Not Burn Even if Hit by Incendiary Rounds Only Slowly Deflates Even if Hit By Multiple Bullets, Due to Low Pressure and Use of Non-Stretch Fabric Can Be Quickly and Easily Patched

For tactical operations LAS can employ a low signature stealth Helikite whose transparent materials make it almost invisible at a hundred meter altitude.

4 Standard / Stealth Helikite Survivability Fig. 3 LAS is Highly Survivable Standard White on White Helikite Is Difficult to Detect. In Fact Banners and Lights May Have To Be Added For Visibility to Aircraft Transparent Stealth Version Can Be Used for Even More Covert Observation No IR or Radar Signatures, Cannot be Locked on by MANPADS Helium Will Not Burn Even if Hit by Incendiary Rounds Only Slowly Deflates Even if Hit By Multiple Bullets, Due to Low Pressure and Use of Non-Stretch Fabric Can Be Quickly and Easily Patched and Relaunched LAS PROTOTYPE CARRIER LAS Military Concept Paper 2.2 Survivability Standard white Helikites are very difficult to detect at altitude (Fig. 3). For tactical operations LAS can employ a low signature stealth Helikite whose transparent materials make it almost invisible at a hundred meter altitude. It is radar transparent and its Infra-Red signature is very small. It can be almost invisible to hostile forces outside the perimeter and MANPAD missiles cannot lock on the aerostat, making LAS very survivable. Helikites have low pressure and is a non-stretch material, so even if hit with multiple bullets it only slowly deflates over several hours. It remains operational during that time, and is easily repaired and returned to service. The non-flammable helium cannot burn. On the other hand the aerostat can be equipped with lights and banners for visibility to friendly aircraft. 2.3 Carrier Until launch the uninflated LAS Helikite is contained in a mobile Carrier with helium tanks, electric generator, a tether and a winch to raise and lower the tether. The standard Carrier body is based on a modified commercial utility truck body mounted on a standard military trailer, which keeps the cost low and ensures that brakes, tires, etc. are in the military supply system (Fig. 4). Many comparable Fig. 4 All equipment carried in single HMMWV trailer Components are military or industrial standard Helium tanks connected to inflation manifold and regulator Inflatable Helirest protects Helikite on ground Rugged JP-8 compatible diesel generator powers the winch and other equipment Roll-on / roll-off C-130 capable Trailer can support up to a 64 cubic meter Helikite, with a sea level, standard day lift of 30 Kg. In high / hot conditions it can lift 12Kg. at 2500 meters ground elevation and 40 degrees C. Carolina Unmanned Vehicles Page

5 LAS Military Concept Paper Trailer Mounted LAS Carrier Helirest T Fig. 5 Rear And Side Views of the trailer Carrier layout with inflated Helikite. The Helirest box sides are folded down to support the inflatable Helirest tubes. The winch connects to the Helikite via a fairlead in the center (Not shown). Shown is an approximately 35M3 Helikite. aerostat handling systems are much larger and require multiple trucks for carriage. In operation the Carrier is towed by a HMMWV to a suitable launch point away from overhead obstructions. During launch and recovery in wind, traditional blimps require several people to avoid ground handling problems, which can easily damage the blimp, particularly when half-inflated. LAS inflates the Helikite inside an air inflated unit called a Helirest that protects and restrains the Helikite, minimizing wind effects and allowing two person operation. The current military Carrier designs, as shown in Fig. 1, launches the Helikite from the Helirest placed on the ground behind the Carrier trailer. The latest military Carrier design can launch the aerostat directly from the trailer back, reducing launch times and avoiding any issues with muddy or flooded soil (Fig. 5). The Helikite and Helirest are carried in a box on the trailer top. HMMWV LAS LAUNCHER Helikite Helirest Storage Box for Helirest and Helikite Winch Tanks Fig. 6 HMMWV Launcher for an 11 to 24 cubic meter Helikite. In operation the Storage box sides and rear fold down to provide support for the inflated Helirest. The Helikite is then inflated while protected by the Helirest. The Winch raises and lowers the Helikite to its operating height. Carolina Unmanned Vehicles Page

LAS Military Concept Paper An even smaller palletized unit can be mounted on the back of a HMMWV (Fig. 6). This unit can deploy smaller Helikites, up to 12Kg.

This design also allows small Helikites to be moved about on the Carrier while inflated and elevated within a minute or so of stopping the trailer, for quick look surveillance missions.

6 LAS Military Concept Paper An even smaller palletized unit can be mounted on the back of a HMMWV (Fig. 6). This unit can deploy smaller Helikites, up to 12Kg.. payloads, directly from the back of the HMMWV. This design also allows small Helikites to be moved about on the Carrier while inflated and elevated within a minute or so of stopping the trailer, for quick look surveillance missions. The military trailer based Carriers are off road capable, air transportable and can respond to any location accessible by a HMMWV. 3.0 Missions LAS provides a unique and cost effective overhead capability for many military missions, including force protection and various communications related tasks. 3.1 Force Protection Surveillance versions of LAS can be equipped with Video or IR sensors, greatly improving security of large facilities such as airfields and base camps, while using minimum manpower. It is ideally suited to continuous 24/7 area security coverage of base areas. Border security agencies could maintain constant 24 hour overhead wide area surveillance coverage of border crossings, airports, docks etc. It is not as intrusive as helicopters and aircraft, and being tethered, cannot accidentally overfly another country. This makes LAS completely non-provocative to neighboring countries. LAS could also support anti-terrorism surveillance at critical target facilities such as oil refineries or chemical plants, or enhance VIP protection at outdoor events. The baseline camera is the gyro stabilized Alticam turret system currently deployed on the Boeing ScanEagle UAV (Fig. 7). Its allows detailed surveillance to detect people implanting IEDs and other activity out to 5 to 8 kilometers. In Iraq the Alticam has detected personnel and vehicles from 5,000 meters, demonstrating the long detection range possible. LAS can be equipped with interchangeable video or IR Alticam versions, or carry both under one Helikite. Other cameras, including IR units, can be readily adapted to LAS as well. LAS can also carry small new generation radars and acoustic gunfire detector / locating devices. 3.2 Communications Payloads LAS can act as a relay platform for voice communications, as a network bridge for interconnecting ground computers and networks, and as relay point for dissimilar communications systems. The options are shown in Figure 8, using Iraq operations as an example. LAS is also an ideal tactical ELINT / COMINT / SIGINT platform. In Iraq or Afghanistan it could maintain continuous coverage to detect low power cell phone or IED trigger devices, providing a stealthy long endurance intercept system that provides covert 24/7 coverage of large areas. CUV has delivered LAS communications relay versions to the Air Force, Sandia National Laboratory and Lockheed Corporation. These systems operate up to 6000 feet altitude for communications relay. LAS Turret Camera System Camera System In Pelican Case With GCS, Antenna, Etc. Fig. 7 The LAS Baseline Camera Is The Gyro-Stabilized Alticam Used On The Boeing ScanEagle UAV. It Is Self-Contained In A Waterproof Case And Can Be Set Up In A Few Minutes. The Ground Control Station Is Based On A Ruggedized Laptop Computer. AltiCam Mounted on Helikite Carolina Unmanned Vehicles Page

3.2.1 Communications Relay Platform LAS can act as a wide area communications relay platform for military ground units, and for low altitude UAVs, particularly in mountainous or urban terrain,

7 3.2.1 Communications Relay Platform LAS can act as a wide area communications relay platform for military ground units, and for low altitude UAVs, particularly in mountainous or urban terrain, alleviating some of the satellite bandwidth problems facing UAV operations. LAS may also be used to maintain constant contact with convoys between camp areas, providing seamless communications at extended ranges with remote units with no dependence on scarce satellite bandwidth Network Bridge Access to computer communications and networks is critical for net-centric operations. LAS can act as a network bridge in-the-sky, providing seamless connection of computer and network resources. Ground networks or individual computers would communicate to the bridge using inexpensive wireless network interface cards, bi-directional amplifier and antennas. Users would have access to all required computer networks, with encryption and authorization techniques as required. LAS Military Concept Paper LAS Communication Coverage Fig. 8 Typical LAS Communication Relay Range (100 km) Overlaid On Iraq Operational Area. Large Areas Can Be Covered From A Few Units, With Even Greater Range By Relaying From One LAS To Another Translation For Interoperability US and Coalition forces communications inter-operability has been a major problem in all operations. In the translator role LAS would receive multiple signals from various units and translate them in a ground terminal on the Carrier. It would then rebroadcast the signals to users equipped with different equipment. Translator hardware is expensive so LAS s broad area coverage would maximize the utility of the translator system. It would eliminate the need for multiple vehicle mounted translator nodes, maximizing communications interoperability with minimum investment. This would greatly enhance coalition interoperability. 4.0 DEVELOPMENT AND PROCUREMENT CUV is the prime LAS developer. We have teamed with several different sensor and communications equipment companies to develop and integrate various payloads into LAS. LAS production cost ranges from $250 to $400K, exclusive of the payload. Payload cost varies widely, depending upon the mission. Cost depends upon the payload weight and the operating altitude, which affect the size of the Helikite and Carrier. Cost can also vary due to the degree of payload integration. For example, a system requiring payload power or data to be transmitted up the tether will require more integration than one carrying a battery powered payload. These variables make it impossible to provide across the board detailed cost for individual versions. However, we can work with customers to develop performance and cost estimates for specific versions. 5.0 SUMMARY LAS is a cost effective solution to many military missions. capable platform for various communications relay concepts, local area security / surveillance and other missions. It can provide low cost, highly mobile platform with a mission duration of a week or more. It can operate in weather conditions too severe for many UAVs or aircraft, or other aerostats, and does so without endangering an aircrew. By integrating off the shelf subsystems, specific versions can be quickly developed in concert with the individual customer. In a typical system payload integration would be the pacing item, but most versions the LAS platform can be developed and produced in three to six months. 6.0 DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES CUV can function as prime LAS contractor, as a subcontractor to a prime developing a payload system, or can provide LAS to carry payloads developed by other companies / agencies. CUV will be pleased to work with you in developing specific designs to your requirements, or adaptation of our existing products to your needs. For further information, or to discuss technical, cost or other issues, please contact Michael E. Rogers, LAS Project Manager, at , merogers@carolinaunmanned.com Carolina Unmanned Vehicles Page

WHITE PAPER LIGHTWEIGHT AEROSTAT SYSTEM (LAS) Models 11M3 and 24M3

WHITE PAPER LIGHTWEIGHT AEROSTAT SYSTEM (LAS) Models 11M3 and 24M3 Persistent Surveillance and Communications Capability For Military And Homeland Security Operations Low Cost Long Mission Duration Minimum