By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young
KAITUS Technology (KAITUS), a company specializing in AI (Artificial Intelligence) based anti-drone total solution, has signed an exclusive domestic contract and overseas sales agreement with Altaeros, the world's first unmanned Aerostat manufacturer, to enter the airship market.
Altaeros was founded as an engineering startup at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2010, and has been steadily accumulating technology based on the judgment that solving the inherent problems of Aerostat could lead to a wide variety of applications through various advantages.
Recognized for its growth potential, Altaeros secured a $7.5 million investment from Japan's SoftBank in 2017, launched the world's first unmanned airship last year, and recently made waves in the industry by securing a five-year, $99 million contract with the U.S. Border Patrol.
The contract will provide the unmanned airship with a maximum flight altitude of 305 meters with the ST-Flex Guardian Class, which is designed to carry 60 kilograms of payloads that can be used for various purposes, including electronic sensors, communication relays, and radar, depending on the application.
KAITUS has entered the airspace defense industry as the official Korean reseller of U.S. anti-drone company Fortem Technologies, which attracted investment from Hanwha last year.
According to KAITUS, monitoring large areas such as border lines with radars mounted on airships has many advantages over ground detection, so there have been many issues in the industry, but high piloting difficulties and operating costs have limited the development of technology.
However, Altaeros' auto pilot function solves the problem of high piloting difficulties and is expected to save up to 70% of costs and power consumption by reducing manpower.
An official from KAITUS said, "Ten years ago, the tactical airship Star Tower 200 was introduced in Korea with an investment of about 24 billion won, and was imported for surveillance in the 5 islands of the West Sea, but was suspended due to technical problems." "Through the innovative technology of Altaeros' Aerostat, we have the opportunity to solve the inherent problems and promote full-scale commercialization," he said.
He added, "Global Market Insights, a leading market forecaster, estimates that the Tethered Aerostat market will be worth $1.31 billion in 2022, growing at an annual average rate of 8% to reach $29.6 billion by 2032. We have entered into an exclusive agreement with Altaeros to meet the diverse needs of our customers in this rapidly evolving market. We will begin aggressive marketing in the first quarter of this year and look forward to building a strong partnership with Altaeros, including quickly identifying the needs of our diverse customers."
