SAF to use aerostat for air and maritime surveillance

SINGAPORE — The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) will deploy a tethered aerostat to carry radars for air and maritime survelliance to complement its existing suite of modern sensors, said Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen today (Oct 28).

Speaking at the MINDEF Pride Day 2014 Awards Presentation Ceremony, Dr Ng said the Singapore’s ground-based radar system can only operate above high-rise buildings, but now there are forty-storey buildings, maybe even taller in the future. Airborne radar can operate round the clock but it is costly and manpower-intensive, he added.

The aerostat — a large floating balloon — will be deployed at sufficient height to have a clear sight of Singapore’s air and sea space, be airborne all the time in a cost effective and sustainable manner, and improve Singapore’s surveillance capabilities significantly, he said.

The aerostat will be up early next year. The Defence Ministry will save approximately S$29 million in operating costs annually once the aerostat is deployed, said Dr Ng.

It will be deployed at a height of 600 metres and operated by eight crew from the ground. The radar will have a range of up to 200km.