Rheinmetall has been commissioned by the Bundeswehr to provide a long-range reconnaissance system in the form of a surveillance balloon to protect a field camp in Niger. The order has a net value of around 21 million euros for Rheinmetall.
The sensors of the surveillance balloon – also known as Aerostat – are integrated into the military command and control system by Rheinmetall subsidiary Rheinmetall Canada. Many soldiers and observers are already familiar with the system from operations, as the US armed forces have been using such solutions for long-range surveillance of their field camps for many years. The balloons can hover at high altitude over the object to be protected for long periods of time and, with their highly sensitive sensors, detect enemy objects at great distances.
With the surveillance balloon, the Bundeswehr is thus gaining a new capability that will serve the security of its forces in Niger. In future, the Bundeswehr will be able to use this solution to identify potential enemy forces several kilometers away by day and night and, if necessary, initiate measures at an early stage. It has already been shown in the past that such systems – through the visibility of possible reconnaissance alone – more than halve the probability of an attack by enemy forces. With the operator solution now commissioned by the Bundeswehr, Rheinmetall undertakes to ensure round-the-clock operation in the area of operations on all seven days of the week. The sensors of the “flying eye” will be operated by soldiers at special workstations on the ground. In accordance with the contract, Rheinmetall will also train these military operators for their future work prior to their deployment.
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