Global Observer, HALE Class UAS

Unmanned Aircraft System Overview

Global Observer (GO), is a High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) unmanned aircraft system (UAS). It combines the best attributes of satellites and both manned and unmanned aircraft. From the stratosphere Global Observer will act like a 12-mile-high, redeployable satellite to provide coverage over an area of up to 600 mile in diameter. Every GO component is designed for maximum flexibility and flight endurance – 3 to 4 times that any other fixed wing aircraft. A revolutionary liquid hydrogen-fueled propulsion system, coupled with extremely light but durable airframe, enable significant benefits and capabilities never thought possible. A single tank of fuel is enough for 7 days of endurance. A SIXTY-SIX tons of Fossil Fuel consuming mission can be achieved with just ONE ton of Hydrogen Fuel.

Mission Possibilities

Communication Relay

With 53,5 wind span (wind span of Boeing 737 is 34,32 meter), GO offers satellite-like capabilities to enable affordable, persistent and seamless communications relay capabilities where mission operators need it most. GO can provide more bandwidth to interconnect and route data. Teams separated by topographical barriers and using legacy radio equipment with disparate radio frequencies and signal formats can use communications relay to communicate with each other and to distant command centers in real time.

Disaster Response

GO provides hurricane storm tracking, weather monitoring and sustained support such as evacuation, planning, relief operations and first response coordination. With an advanced payload, GO can provide alternative communications relay in the event assets such as cell towers, microwave relays and satellite downlinks are damaged.

Maritime Operations

Thanks to its adjustable cameras and sensors which provide coverage of about 1,000 km in diameter, GO can provide long-term surveillance over coastlines for detection of intruders or transport of illegal goods. This enables command center to obtain real time intelligence data to observe suspicious activity, determine patterns of behavior and identify threats to enable rapid and effective countermeasures/actions.

AeroVironment Inc., California USA

AeroVironment has over 30 years of experience in UAS industry. AV employs nearly 800 people in its Research and Development Department, 10% of the personnel are Ph.D. holders. AeroVironment, a worldwide technology solutions provider and leader in unmanned aircraft systems, is fully capable of providing the infrastructure to design, manufacture and test Mini, Tactical and High Altitude unmanned aircrafts.

AeroVironment Product Range

NASDAQ: AVAV

Over 25.000 UAS delivery

Export to 27 Countries

UAS Market Share in USD: % 85

AeroVironment holding the 85% of UAS market share (Figure 1), has manufactured Global Observer to meet the increasing demand in UAS industry. During the decade prior to the initial flight testing of GO, AeroVironment had manufactured two former HALE UAS. Namely, Pathfinder which reaches 80,000 feet and Helios, holding the world record for an altitude of 96,986 feet. Consequently, GO has emerged from the know-how gathered from these two systems (Pathfinder and Helios) along with 700 Million $ of investment and 10 years of experience.

Altoy Defence Industry and Aviation Inc.

Altoy Defence Industry and Aviation Inc. is a Turkish Company was established under the provisions of Turkish Commercial Code on February 7, 2014 as an affiliation of AeroVironment, Inc. (USA)( 49% shareholder). 

Altoy aims to develop & manufacture HALE (High-Altitude, Long-Endurance) Unmanned Aerial Platform jointly in Turkey by transferring the high technology from AeroVironment, marketing and sales of such products to the world market, test, operate, maintain and repair of HALE Platforms.

For technology transfer, research, development, manufacturing purposes Altoy has a facility of 19.000 m² with a hangar of 5000 m² in Ankara Kazan (Next to Aerospace Cluster). The headquarters is located in Ankara Cukurambar in its early establishment and expected to expand in the future.

 Altoy also has the exclusive rights of joint manufacturing, marketing & sales of HALE Products of AeroVironment Inc. (Holds 85% of unmanned aircraft system market of the US Armed Forces) to the hinterland of Turkey including nearly 20 friendly States. It is estimated that this initiative will contribute to technology transfer in both platform and component bases and foster the supply in the national aviation industry. 

Altoy’s Vision is to become the leading global player in the field of High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) Unmanned Aerial Systems and the Research & Development center of relevant high technologies, to manufacture & maintain such systems. 

High-Tech Global Observer, Stratospheric HALE UAS key features are as follows;

Propulsion with Liquid Hydrogen Fuel System 

400 lb. of Payload and Sensor Systems Capacity 

65,000 ft. operation altitude

5-7 days of endurance at high altitudes 

Liquid Hydrogen Propulsion system is a new cutting-edge technology which provides extensive lightness and efficiency. In an air operation, 1 ton of liquid hydrogen almost is equal to 66 ton fossil fuel efficiency. This saves a considerable amount of fuel consumption and provides a longer duration, up to 7 days. It is expected that new technology and research would improve upon duration and distance performance.  

Altoy UAS has operational capabilities such as; Defence, Border Security, Surveillance & Reconnaissance, Search & Rescue, Security of Energy Lines and Fields, Intelligence Gathering, Agricultural Analysis, Fire Prevention, Wide-Band Data Communications, Datalink & Relay.

Altoy takes its name from the largest flying bird of Turkey, Great Bustard (Otis tarda), Toy (in Turkish).