Rheinmetall Unveils Airborne Surveillance Sentinel to Shield Forward Bases with €21 Million Deal
The German Bundeswehr has procured a tethered balloon-based surveillance system worth €21 million to secure a forward operating base in Niger.
Group subsidiary Rheinmetall Canada will be responsible for integrating the surveillance balloon’s sensors into the existing military C4I framework. This system – commonly referred to as an aerostat – is already recognized by numerous soldiers and analysts from prior assignments: the US armed forces have utilized such area surveillance technologies for years to safeguard their forward operating bases. Capable of hovering above the protected installation for extended durations, the balloons’ ultra-sensitive sensors allow for the detection of adversarial entities even from considerable distances.
The introduction of these tethered reconnaissance balloons will provide the Bundeswehr with an advanced method to protect its forces stationed in Niger.
The Bundeswehr will be equipped to utilize this technology around the clock to identify potential threats several kilometers away, enabling timely initiation of necessary counteractions. Historical data suggests that systems of this nature – primarily due to the clear possibility of detection – can reduce the probability of an attack by adversarial forces by fifty percent.
According to the operator solution awarded by the Bundeswehr, Rheinmetall has committed to managing the system in Niger continuously, seven days a week. Soldiers stationed at specialized workstations on the ground will control the system’s sensors. As stated in the agreement, Rheinmetall will provide training to these personnel to prepare them for their responsibilities before deployment.
