DoD Selects Enhanced WASP Tactical Aerostat (See in Action, Video)

The WASP is a highly tactical and mobile aerostat system which can be operated by as few as two soldiers and can provide day/night video, secure multi-frequency and multi-wave form wireless communication range extension capability at the edge of the battlefield from either a fixed, stationary position or while being towed.
The WASP is a highly tactical and mobile aerostat system which can be operated by as few as two soldiers and can provide day/night video, secure multi-frequency and multi-wave form wireless communication range extension capability at the edge of the battlefield from either a fixed, stationary position or while being towed.

Drone Aviation, a manufacturer of tethered drones and lighter-than-air aerostats, has received its largest single contract award to date for its multi-mission capable tactical Winch Aerostat Small Platform (WASP).

This latest Department of Defense (DoD) customer order is the third repeat order awarded to the Company for its WASP and comes as the result of a growing number of successful international deployments with military personnel.

Under terms of the contract valued in excess of $1.7 million, the Drone Aviation anticipates delivery of the WASP tactical aerostat before the end of the third quarter of 2018 which includes high performance payloads designed for day/night Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), secure multi-frequency and multi-wave form communications and operator training.

Dan Erdberg, President of Drone Aviation
Dan Erdberg, President of Drone Aviation

“Today’s $1.7 million contract award, the largest received by the Company to date, reconfirms the growing interest in the WASP based upon actual deployment experience and our ability to cost-effectively deliver ISR and secure Comms at the at the edge of the battlefield,” said Dan Erdberg, President of Drone Aviation.

“Most importantly, in contrast to the significant expense and logistical challenges associated with the larger, mostly fixed infrastructure aerostat systems deployed today, WASP is rapidly deployable and mobile, providing nearly unmatched mission flexibility.”

“We look forward to further serving the needs of this important customer by delivering persistent, aerial solutions that enable our military to meet both current and future mission requirements.”

Jay Nussbaum, Chairman and CEO of Drone Aviation Corp.
Jay Nussbaum, Chairman and CEO of Drone Aviation Corp.

“We are pleased to have received this repeat order, the second from the DoD in just over four months,” added Jay Nussbaum, Chairman and CEO of Drone Aviation Corp.”

“Milestone contracts such as this demonstrates that our sales pipeline continues to expand and is further evidence of our growing leadership position in the tactical aerostat market.”

“Our ongoing dedication to innovation in aerostat development gives us confidence in our ability to deliver solutions that meet the needs of today’s military and position us for additional contracts in 2018.”

The WASP is a highly tactical and mobile aerostat system which can be operated by as few as two soldiers and can provide day/night video, secure multi-frequency and multi-wave form wireless communication range extension capability at the edge of the battlefield from either a fixed, stationary position or while being towed.

(See in Action! The Winch Aerostat Small Platform, or WASP, is a mobile, tactical-sized aerostat capable of carrying a variety of payloads in support of military operations. WASP extends stand-off range for detection and communication. The self-contained launcher/trailer allows lightly-trained crews of 2-3 soldiers to operate from austere locations. Courtesy of Drone Aviation and YouTube)

Over the past four years, U.S. Army-owned WASP systems have successfully completed thousands of hours of soldier training operations, various DoD exercises, and customer operations.

WASP Operational Information

WASP

  • Mobile, rapidly reconfigurable aerostat
  • HMMWV OR truck deployed
  • Setup to operating in 30 minutes
  • Days-duration flight time
  • 10X the height of existing tower capability
  • Supports a variety of payloads to include communications, ISR and SIGINT
  • Operationally flexible – deploy and launch from fixed or remote site
  • Low total cost of ownership (TCO)
  • Modular launcher can be dropped on ground, rooftop, or military depot trailer (M1101/02)
  • Launcher can be tendered to commercial freight (not roll-on, roll-off cargo via Dover AFB MAC)

WASP Benefits to the Warfighter

  • Enables assured communications to the tactical edge
  • Links Aviation (Roamer Net) and Ground Maneuver (SINCGARS to SRW)
  • Enables operational dispersion and increased OPTEMPO
  • Reduces need to jump towers forward (force protection)
  • Supports scouts / special units that “outrun” or operate beyond the existing network
  • Enhances Mission Command on the Move

WASP is currently being utilized by the DoD as a mobile, tactical aerial solution that can support multi-mission profiles involving ground and aerial-based assets through communication retransmission.

Operating at altitudes of up to 1,500 feet AGL, the WASP system can significantly extend ISR capabilities and secure communications in remote and austere locations.

Drone Aviation Corp logoThe soldier-operated systems can be rapidly configured to support a variety of mission requirements for days, weeks or months with customized payloads.

For more information on the WASP, including product demonstration video, please visit https://www.droneaviationcorp.com/solutions/aerostat/wasp.