SkySentry Contracts

While SkySentry LLC is a relatively new company, established in January 2004, its company principals have successfully executed High Altitude Airship (HAA)-related contracts since the late-1990s. These contracts were performed under a predecessor company named Stratospheric Communications (STRATCOM) International and include detailed work on:

1. Candidate missions and High Altitude Airship technology study.
   
   This was a sole source contract with the National Reconnaissance Organization (NRO), with Lockheed Martin — Akron and Harris Corporations as principal subcontractors. This contract investigated a number of candidate government missions including persistent surveillance with a variety of multi-spectral optical sensors, radar sensors, and advanced communications. The contract also investigated a range of operational concepts and the potential HAA configurations, required for these payloads.



2. Ballistic Missile Defense mission and technology studies.
   
   These two contracts were with the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization (BMDO), the predecessor of the Missile Defense Agency. Lockheed Martin— Akron and Goodrich Aerospace were principal aerospace and optics subcontractors. These studies examined a range of ballistic and cruise missile defense optical and radar payloads with advanced real-time communications, as well as additional HAA configuration tradeoffs and more detailed CONOPS. The studies included sections on weather, worldwide deployment, and unique HAA applications, such as using the HAA as a Test Bed for development of space hardware and software.



3. HAA enhancement of the missile defense interceptor.
   
   These two Small Business Innovative Research Contracts (SBIRs) studied applications of a unique ballistic missile defense and cruise missile defense capability for enhancing interceptor hit, discriminate, and destroy functions. SAIC Corporation was a principal aerospace subcontractor.



4. Ground-based test bed development.
   
   This contract with MDA examined development and use of a ground-based test bed for a range of HAA power subsystem component development and “burn in” testing. The Lockheed Martin — Akron and Denver companies were subcontractors. This design and facility study was the forerunner of the ground-based power subsystem test bed activity that is now in use and vital to the Team Lockheed HAA Prototype Development Contract with the MDA.



5. Alternative Missile Defense Communications.
   
   This MDA SBIR examined architectures that enable unrestricted exchanges among all missile defense system elements. The study found that using HAA links could provide a greater volume of battle space information to interceptors in flight and exfiltrating unique battlespace perceptions and performance information from interceptors.



6. Alternative Missile Defense Communications—Phase II.
   
   This contract with MDA spans the 2004-2006 timeframe and uses synthesized commercial-off-the-shelf software to provide higher fidelity communications simulations within the Ballistic Missile Defense Benchmark simulation. The simulations will incorporate diverse communications and sensor platform characteristics and could ultimately result in a new, adaptive communications fusion architecture for the Ballistic Missile Defense System worldwide, to include improved scenario development and expanded missile flyout tools within Benchmark.



7. High Altitude Airship Payload Experimentation contract.
   
   This successfully completed contract with Lockheed Martin — Akron examined various categories of payloads with potential to fly on the HAA Advanced Concept and Technology Demonstration prototype, and to devise a plan to reduce the risk on such payloads. Mobile ad hoc networking (MANET) payloads emerged at the forefront of great operational benefit with relatively low risk. The final product identified the most promising MANET payload and detailed a step-by-step plan for risk reduction in preparation for flight on the prototype.



8. Senior Mentor Projects.
   
   SkySentry is involved in on-going efforts for various customers to provide “Greybeard” expertise on widely varying subjects. These projects include study and examination of Near Space, combatant commander space support requirements, and organizational constructs for the future.



9. Other on-going efforts.
   
   SkySentry also provides technical support to other customers on all aspects of Near Space operations, HAA concepts, and specialty areas such as battle management command, control, and communications and cruise missile defense.

Throughout the above contracts and to today, Company principals worked with a group of U.S. Government agencies, various civil telephony companies, specialized military sensor and communications companies, and other small business companies with promising technologies that could enhance HAA capabilities. These activities have established SkySentry in a prominent position with unique capability to analyze HAA-related uses and architectures and all aspects of doctrine, organization, logistics, operation, marketing, and facilities.