lighter-than-air vehicles - Defense Innovation Marketplace

Length: 117 ft.Width: 39 ft.Height: 39 ft.Diameter: 52 ft.Volume: 74,000 cu. ft.Max Payload: 1,000 lbs.Payload Options: MX-20 EO/IR,UTAMS, STARLite GMTI/DMTI,Kestrel WASFlight Ceiling: 8,000 ft. MSL / 3,000 ft.ASLDuration: 30 days aloft (97% op. avail)Table 11: PTDS Technical SpecificationsFigure 18: PTDS Subsystem Components 10Crew: 8 for single sensor, 10 for dual sensorGMTI/DMTI wide area, near-real-timereconnaissance, surveillance, and targetacquisition capabilities, operating inadverse weather and through battlefieldobscurantsExtended range platform for Command,Control, Communications, Computers,Combat Systems, Intelligence,Surveillance, and Reconnaissance(C5ISR) systems, Enhanced PositionLocation Reporting System (EPLRS),Single Channel Ground and AirborneRadio System (SINCGARS), HNR,TTNT, HARCPTDS was initiated in 2004 as a QRCprogram by ARL to satisfy a JUONS. Theprimary contractor is Lockheed Martin, whoprovides operational support at 66 PTDSsites. The PTDS operations center is locatedin Melbourne, Florida; the systemsintegration center is located in Akron, Ohio;and Yuma Proving Ground (YPG), Arizonahosts the PTDS test site. The program isfunded with Overseas ContingencyOperations (OCO) funds. OCO funds beganin FY06. The Acquisition Authority forPTDS is Program Executive OfficeIntelligence Electronic Warfare and Sensors(PEO IEW&S) and PM MaTIC. The systemstakeholders include U.S. Army G-2,USFOR-A, CENTCOM, ISR Task Force,C5ISR Task Force, Training and DoctrineCommand (TRADOC), Tobyhanna ArmyDepot (TYAD), and YPG. 26The primary known technical challenge(current and future) is survivability due toenvironmental factors such as lightning—damage to envelope and payload equipmentand microbursts—extreme tether slack andtether catches causing severing/damage. Themitigation strategy for these risks includessupporting JUONS for improved weatherforecasting. Approved weather architectureshave been installed at 26 PTDS sites, andthese sites are currently transmitting weatherdata to AFWA to better inform weatherforecasting. Also, theater flight guidelineshave been revised to restrict flight to moreconservative conditions, further reducing thelikelihood of damage due to weather25