Do high-altitude
pseudo-satellites, also known as HAPS, have the potential to enhance
law-enforcement operations, border surveillance and communication? Frontex has
just released a technological assessment report that tackles these questions.
Frontex’s research into HAPS
Frontex is currently leading a
research study on HAPS, flying devices mirroring closely the capacity and
operability of satellites. While this technology is still in the early stages
of development, it represents significant potential uses in the context of
surveillance, internal security, and border control.
As part of the research, the
agency has been working on a technological assessment of the platforms. Throughout nine months, the study aimed to
explore whether HAPS can potentially be used in law enforcement operations to
further enhance existing surveillance, communications, and navigation
capabilities.
What are HAPS?
HAPS are advanced unmanned flying
aircraft systems that operate in the stratosphere at an altitude typically
between 18-22 km (59,000-72,000 ft).
Given the high altitude, HAPS must withstand harsh stratospheric
conditions, such as temperatures falling down to minus 90°C, high solar, UV and
cosmic radiation and low atmospheric pressure. While this environment poses an
enormous challenge for aircraft engineers, the potential applications and use
cases are highly promising not only for commercial operators and service
providers, but also for institutional stakeholders, such as security agencies,
that would be able to leverage the new technology and its associated
applications and services.
Main findings of the report
The report looks at the
technological readiness, assessing the technology of HAPS as such, but also its
potential use to help tackle challenges faced by Frontex and other members of
the EU
Innovation Hub for Internal Security.
The authors of the report looked
at particular case studies to see how HAPS can be used in such activities as
earth observation, telecommunication and navigation, search and rescue
missions, remote sensing and operations and provision of ad-hoc telecom and satellite
navigation (GNSS).
The study includes the following
elements:
- an overview of balloons and airships (LTA –
lighter-than-air) and with fixed-wing aircraft (HTA – heavier-than-air); - an analysis of individual HAPS technologies,
including a comparison of the platforms, payload analysis, technological
challenges, infrastructure demands, and regulatory barriers.
Innovation hub platform
The project is carried out under
the EU
Innovation Hub for Internal Security, a cross-sectorial EU platform which
ensures collaboration between internal security innovation actors, formed by
the EU Justice
and Home Affairs agencies, European Commission (Directorate-General
for Migration and Home Affairs and Directorate-General
for Joint Research Centre), the Council General Secretariat and the EU
Counter Terrorism Coordinator.
Previous reports on HAPS can be
found here.
