TUCSON, Ariz. (Nov. 29, 2022) - World View, a global leader in stratospheric ballooning, and international defense contractor Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), announce a Strategic Agreement to field and operate uncrewed platforms for stratospheric communications and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR). The partnership allows both companies to pursue new missions by combining SNC’s defense and aerospace integration, payload and mission systems expertise with World View’s high-altitude Earth observation capability.
SNC’s multi-domain, modular open systems architecture and integration capabilities allow World View platforms to carry advanced defense and aerospace payloads, while adding capabilities like ISR and electronic warfare sensors, communication networks, cyber intelligence, artificial intelligence, machine learning and data transport. The rapid deployment capability also ensures high-altitude balloon (HAB) platforms are reliably positioned and responsive within hours or days versus weeks for round-the-clock operations.
“SNC continues to invest heavily in high-tech, agile solutions for our customers and this partnership with World View is a great example of how we continue to do that in new and different ways,” said Jon Burgoyne, SNC’s chief operating officer. “Some of our greatest outcomes are a result of these pursuits, which we will continue to invest in as we work alongside the U.S. government to protect our nation and its allies.”
As an industry pioneer, World View provides a platform to host a vast number of unique and proven sensors that provide a full C5ISR architecture to include high-resolution imagery of Earth via remotely-operated stratospheric balloons. World View has completed more than 115 successful stratospheric flights including five heavy, full-mass test flights over the past seven years. Guided by its mission to help others rediscover Earth, World View’s remote sensing division utilizes patented technology for Earth observation, and collection and sharing of valuable information. Customers include NASA, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the U.S. government and commercial companies.
“We are excited for the opportunity to partner with SNC to provide a superior solution for autonomous information gathering and dissemination,” said Ryan Hartman, World View’s president and chief executive officer. “This partnership will yield benefits on a global scale, integrating World View’s innovative stratospheric technology and robust station-keeping abilities with SNC’s mission solution architecture to deliver real-time data and uninterrupted communications at high altitudes.”
The World View Stratollite® balloon is a remotely operated stratospheric vehicle that delivers commercial, scientific and government payloads to the near-space environment with revolutionary new control capabilities including precision landing and payload recovery. Its patented Altitude Control System allows for dynamic, point-to-point navigation over large distances and persistent flight over specific areas of interest. It is capable of operating at altitudes up to 75,000 ft (~23 km).
For nearly 60 years, SNC has rapidly developed, integrated and deployed all-domain C5ISR systems worldwide, offering considerable experience with ‘lighter-than-air’ high-altitude platforms and collection systems. When combined with World View’s capability, SNC’s mission solution architecture and next-generation technologies will deliver real-time data and uninterrupted communications at higher altitudes and provide longer observing times at a much lower cost than traditional ISR platforms.
The two companies recently demonstrated the rapidly maneuverable, ultra-persistent wide area communications and ISR platform as part of the U.K. Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) Project Aether Programme. SNC’s Flight 1 demonstration launched from Page, Ariz., performing key station-keeping missions before transitioning northeast across several states to more urban environments. SNC successfully performed all stratospheric beyond-line-of-sight operations and recovered the payload, maintaining the altitudes for the duration set by the Aether programme office.
ABOUT WORLD VIEW
World View is the leading stratospheric exploration company on a mission to inspire the global community to rediscover Earth. Through both its legacy Stratollite imaging and newly launched space tourism and exploration businesses, World View is working to ensure its ultimate objective: honor the planet so that future generations will feel blessed to call it home. For more information, visit worldview.space.
ABOUT SNC
SNC is a trusted leader in innovative, advanced technology solutions and open architecture integrations in aerospace and national security. Best known for its unique mission applications, SNC creates customized solutions for the world’s most pressing technology challenges in the fields of aviation, national security space, electronic warfare, command and control, mission systems and inline cybersecurity. SNC is owned by Chairwoman Eren Ozmen and CEO Fatih Ozmen, and is once again recognized as a US Best Managed Company by Deloitte Private. For more information, visit sncorp.com.
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