Drone Aviation Adds Wireless Capabilities to Wasp Aerostats
Photo: Drone Aviation Holding Corp.
Drone Aviation Holding Corp., which develops specialized aerostats and tethered drones, announced that its Drone Aviation Corp. subsidiary is adding wireless communications to two of its Wasp aerostat systems for upcoming Department of Defense exercises.
The Jacksonville, Florida-based company builds the Wasp systems, which are owned by the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command Battle Lab. The contract is through prime contractor BAE Systems.
The upgrades are intended to extend the payload capacity of the Wasps so they can carry wireless electronics, advanced optics and a communications package developed by L-3 Communications Systems-West, which would allow communications to a land-based terminal.
“The addition of the L-3 technology greatly expands the capabilities of the Wasp, and we look forward to working closely with our customers and new partners to provide the military with a unique solution designed to meet today’s evolving mission requirements,” Felicia Hess, CEO of Drone Aviation Holding Corp., said in a press release.
The upgraded WASP systems are expected to be delivered to the U.S. Army in July and will be deployed in a month-long exercise to demonstrate the capabilities of the wireless-enabled aerostat system.
