PESCO PROJECTS

European High Atmosphere Airship Platform (EHAAP) – Persistent Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) Capability (EHAAP)

The project aims at developing cost-efficient and innovative ISR platform (balloon based) that will provide persistence in the area of operations and a high degree of freedom of movement derived from its operating altitude and outstanding Dual Use characteristics.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

High-altitude platforms (HAPs) are aircraft, usually unmanned airships or airplanes positioned above 20 km, in the stratosphere, to compose a telecommunications network or perform remote sensing enhancing the DUAL-USE spectrum of operations. The EHAAP will provide excellent DUAL USE characteristics, delivering the following capabilities: a) Communication relay, b) Missile warning, c) Airspace and maritime surveillance and control, d) Aerial and ground RSTA (reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition), e) Fire’s coordination, f) Position/navigation, g) Weather monitoring, h) Electronic countermeasures, i) Air defence/cruise missile defence/tactical missile defence and k) Air to ground weapons platform.

OBJECTIVES/PRODUCTS

The objective of the project is to achieve an operational capability, based on a System of systems approach, complementing innovative ISR Strategic Platforms for supporting an ISR capability, performing high persistence on a large area of interest at high altitude.