Just a guess who's behing the contract "Sierra Nevada Corporation"??????
Techsphere Systems International (TSI), a Georgia-based manufacturer of low-, mid- and high-altitude spherical airships using technology developed by 21st Century Airships, today announced that the company has entered an agreement with Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), giving them the exclusive integration contract for government end users of the company's airships.
"This is an incredible development for Techsphere. One that will allow us to achieve our goal of flying unmanned, high-altitude airships within a year," said Techsphere President Mike Lawson. "This agreement brings together the resources and technology of both companies and promises to be successful for everyone involved."
Sierra Nevada will work with Techsphere to develop technology that will enable the airships to carry a variety of payloads for government end users. Founded in 1963, the company develops and manufactures innovative, high-quality electronic systems with numerous technical applications.
"This agreement will afford our company the opportunity to integrate many of the technologies we have developed onto a product that will change the way we look at surveillance, communications and information gathering," said Fatih Ozmen, CEO and President of the Sierra Nevada Corporation. "A top-notch team has been put together to build these airships and we are excited to be a part of it."
Immediate market opportunities for the airships are in homeland security, defense and telecommunications. As a homeland security or defense tool, the ships can be equipped to perform high-level research, superior visual surveillance, and secure communications. In telecommunications, they provide a viable alternative to cell towers and satellites. The airships can be launched inexpensively and from virtually any location. In addition, they can be returned to land so that payloads can be recovered and exchanged - allowing for technological updates or equipment replacement.
TSI airships are unique in that they are spherical in shape - making it easier to reach much greater altitudes than traditional "cigar" shaped ships. Different models will be able to fly in both manned and unmanned mode, and can be continually retrofitted to accommodate new applications or technology. Low- and mid-altitude ships reach altitudes between 7,000 and 30,000 feet, and can hover for 48 to 72 hours. The higher altitude airships will reach altitudes between 60,000 and 70,000 feet, placing them above commercial air traffic and weather systems, where they will be able to hover from 30 days up to one year.
Techsphere Systems International's global manufacturing headquarters are located in Columbus, Georgia, and the company is currently working with research and development partners toward high altitude applications. Techsphere's global marketing partner is Cyber Aerospace Corp., a subsidiary of Proxity Digital Networks
A manned flight demonstration
A BIT OF OLD NEWS BUT WOULD VENTURE SIERRA IS USING TECHSPHERE ONCE AGAIN ON A DEFENSE PROJECT. |
