UK developing unmanned high-altitude reconnaissance Aerostats

The United Kingdom is advancing the development of unmanned high-altitude reconnaissance aerostats for future use in military surveillance and intelligence-gathering missions.

As reported by Caliber.Az, citing the UK Ministry of Defence, the cutting-edge aerostat systems are intended to carry out a wide range of tasks, including reconnaissance, observation, and surveillance operations at extreme altitudes.

This year, the aerostats underwent successful testing in the U.S. state of South Dakota. Designed for long-range missions, the platforms are capable of flying more than 2,000 nautical miles (approximately 3,700 kilometres) at altitudes between 18 and 24 kilometres. Each aerostat can carry a payload of up to three kilograms and remain in continuous operation for over five days.

The development is being led by British company Voltitude, in collaboration with electronics firm Landguard Systems and U.S. aerospace manufacturer Aerostar.

By Vugar Khalilov