STRATFI
AFWERX · AFWERX STRATFI · AFWERX
Award
Description
The Primary purpose of this STRATFI effort is to increase the overall capability and Technical Readiness (TR) Level of Urban Sky Micro High-Altitude Balloons (mHABs) so that they may advance to a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase Three Contract. Urban Sky specializes in the development, manufacturing, and operationalization of stratospheric Microballoons (mHABs). Urban Sky mHABs are navigable stratospheric balloons that offer quick, cost-effective, long-duration, and controllable flight in the high-altitude environment, resulting in highly effective forms of broad-area, continuous monitoring above targeted areas for persistent surveillance and data collection. These Microballoons are easy to use, can be launched tactically by a single operator from virtually anywhere (both maritime and terrestrial) in less than 5 minutes and have been operationally-proven in more than 350 successful flights. As a low-cost, tactically deployable, autonomous, and persistent flight vehicle, mHABs are an ideal platform for supporting three main use cases: Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR), Communications, and Extended Range engagement. This engagement will be 48 months and demonstrate how Urban Sky’s Zero Pressure (ZP) and Super Pressure (SP) Microballoons will provide additional capacity for increased payload masses over longer distances, at higher altitudes for longer duration, with more integrated payloads and a reduced logistical footprint. A major focus of this STRATFI period of performance will be the introduction of an operational variant of the current Urban Sky balloon in the form of a Super Pressure (SP) system, which will provide a superior loitering advantage compared to the ZP balloon. This level of effort will also include enhancements to the Mission Control software for integration with any future payload and any balloon platform (to include other third-party, non-Urban Sky balloons) to help ensure that end users have a tool to oversee and manage all stratospheric operations within a single software interface. Key tasks for the baseline effort include: Increasing the Lift Capacity and Flight Altitude for Larger Balloons Extending Flight Duration for MicroballoonsDeveloping Remote Balloon Filling and Launch CapabilityEnhancing Payload IntegrationEnhancing Mission Control Software for Multi-Balloon Operations and Payload Management