Mortar-Launched Lighter-Than-Air Recoverable Sensor (MOLTARS) System

Sponsored by: Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Program

Under Phase I SBIR funding by DARPA, AITHER investigated the feasibility of developing a mortar or file-launched optical sensor system based on a blimp or lighter-than-air vehicle. The overall goal was to provide troops with an intrinsic platform that could provide over-the-horizon surveillance by taking advantage of the propulsive power of the mortar or rifle.

During the Phase I SBIR effort, AITHER performed two main investigations. First, a detailed trade study was performed to determine the optimal system configuration, eventually settling on a modified 81-mm mortar illumination round that would deploy a 4.5’ long blimp. Vehicle retrieval would be performed by releasing helium at the desired time and location to bring the blimp slowly down. The second investigation was to experimentally validate the ability to rapidly inflate the blimp using high-pressure compressed helium. An example of these successful tests can be seen here.

Additional results of the effort were presented at the 2001 AeroSense conference by SPIE. At the 2002 AeroSense conference, later studies suggested the development of a similar system for battle damage assessment and police/border surveillance.