An Airborne Balloon Launch System (ABLS): Heritage, Concepts and Applications

[Abstract] An air launch balloon system provides an opportunity for observations on a global basis with greatest immediacy. Operating altitudes of 60,000 – 70,000 ft allow the ALBS to take advantage of the relatively low wind speeds in this layer of the atmosphere. When prevailing winds move the asset out of the theatre of operations, a new balloon asset can be launched to maintain coverage. In order to provide complete global coverage, an ABLS can be launched from areas where a ground launch is not possible. If an urgent need for a balloon system in a certain area is identified, an ABLS can be deployed to launch in hours. The ABLS provides total flexibility in selecting the time and place where a balloon system is deployed in support of operational areas. The Offboard Balloon Jammer System (OBJS) was developed by SwRI for the Joint Electronic Warfare Center (JEWC) of Kelly Air Force Base. The requirements for the OBJS called for a 150-lb electronics payload to float at 27,000 ft. for six hours after an airborne launch. The OBJS was integrated and complete testing of the system was performed at SwRI. A very successful free-flight airborne and inflation test of the OBJS system was conducted from Holloman AFB, New Mexico in October of 1993. Since that time, additional work has been conducted in support of planetary ballooning technology development. Descriptions of prior studies, development efforts, potential applications, testing and the current state of the art will be presented.