Aerial Border Control

ADVANTAGES FOR BORDER SECURITY

Protects National Borders

Detects Illegal Immigrants

Monitors Cross-Border Traffic

Deters All Types of Smuggling

Distant Cross-Border Surveillance

Increases Border Patrol Effectiveness

Records Border Incidents from the Air

Detects Long Range Mobile Phone Use

Improves Border Patrol Reaction Speeds

Detects Over-The-Horizon Boats and Ships

Improves Safety for Border Guards and Travellers

CAPABILITIES

NATO All Weather Lighter-Than-Air Helikite Aerostat

24/7, Day-Night, Airborne Capability to 7,000ft

Airborne Long Range E/O - I/R Surveillance

Unlimited Affordable Airborne Persistence

30 Mph Mobile High Altitude Patrol Capability

Long Range High Definition Zoom Cameras

Long Range High Zoom Thermal Cameras

Detects Long Range Radio Signals (SIGINT)

Lifts Airborne Radar Above Land and Sea

Through Tree Canopy Personnel Detection

Failsafe Operation With Easy Training

Reliable, Economical, Persistent, Airborne Capability.

Helikites have been used around the globe by military and border security services for decades. Their all-weather capability is highly appreciated. With border surveillance protection more important than ever before, Helikite surveillance systems offer an affordable, all-weather, day-night, solution that is economical enough to be fielded permanently. Helikite systems provide surveillance over large areas of tough terrain, enabling the tracking of unauthorized personnel, smugglers, illegal immigrants or hostile forces.

High Speed Airborne Border Patrol.

The unique ability of Helikites to be operated from mobile trailers or trucks is very important for rapid deployment. Unlike other aerostats (that rapidly become unstable) Helikites can be towed at high speed behind trailers, trucks or boats with no problems. This allows long-distance patrolling and fast pursuit of targets. Patrolling in this way reduces the surveillance costs per unit area by ten times compared to fixed installations.

1. 34 cu metre Helikite

Gyro camera

Marine Borders

1. 34 cu metre Helikite

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LONG-RANGE AIRBORNE GYRO-CAMERAS

Gaining height provides excellent opportunities for long range day-night surveillance. These opportunities need to be exploited by using the best available long range, gyro-stabilised surveillance cameras. There are now excellent models available suitable for aerostat use. Almost any type and make of cameras can be lifted with Helikites, but we concentrate on those that offer the best performance for the least weight and power whilst remaining within a reasonable budget. These cameras are regularly updated and every new camera system is evaluated to see if it is suitable for our purposes.

HIGH ALTITUDE RADAR

Helikites are capable of lifting the latest ground and sea searching radars. These can spot a moving person out to 10 miles and vehicles and small boats out to 20 miles in nil visibility weather, rain, fog, or dust. They have automatic search capability and operator warning systems.

ELINT

Electronic intelligence can be gathered from many types of electronic devices. Mobile phones, car radios, boat engines all emit radio signals. These can be picked up from far away due to the high altitude of the Helikite and the incredible sensitivity of Helikite radios. Then the information can be classified using suitable software.

Fibre-Optic Cable

British Army 34m3 Helikite with Gyro Camera

Radio Helikite Trailer plus Fibre-Optic Cable Video

34m3 Desert Star Helikite Aerostat & Trailer

Why use a Helikite?

Works in extreme weather and high winds

Small size

Very stable platform for surveillance

Single person use

Easily towed at high speed

The Helikite is a type of hybrid kite-balloon. The Helikite comprises a combination of a helium balloon and kite to form a single, aerodynamically sound, unmanned, tethered aircraft, that exploits helium for its lift and harnesses wind for stability and lift.The Helikite comprises a semi-rigid helium-filled balloon, having a rigid carbon-fibre spine, with the balloon shaped aerodynamically. The balloon is generally oblate-spheroid in shape in shape although this is not essential. Solid spars provide attachment points for payload equipment such as 4G communications or video cameras. In most winds the aerodynamic lift is greater than the aerostatic lift from the helium.

The Helikite design is intended for all-weather, high-altitude operation. The round, stubby shape allows it to be flown in any weather or for altitudes up to 7000 ft. In wind, both the main aerodynamic lift and the aerostatic lift are at the front, while the spar weight and keel are at the stern. Therefore a Helikite remains stable in relatively high winds.