Encrypted Weather Data Acquisition System
Highly secure, ultra-lightweight solution for military operationsThe challenge
The acquisition of weather data for artillery and special operations requires a system capable of collecting data across a broad range of altitudes while ensuring data security and integrity. To prevent interception by adversaries it is essential that the data stream is encrypted and difficult to detect.
Logistical requirements, such as weight and helium consumption, are also a significant factor in ensuring that the system is easy to deploy and operate in different operational environments.
Our solution
HENSOLDT’s Encrypted Weather Data Acquisition System is a secure, ultra-lightweight and highly mobile solution for artillery, airborne forces and special operating forces. The compact system consists of a radiosonde (Windsond S2 manufactured by Sparv Embedded AB), a ground station and control software with a portable carrying case – specially adapted for military applications.
The specially designed weather system transmits atmospheric parameters to a ground station, providing necessary input data for precise artillery and vertical drop point calculations. The system is also suitable for regular weather observation by geo-information services at airfields.
The sondes are available in two modes of operation: as an ascending atmospheric probe, carried by a helium ballon, or as a droppable probe, slowed down by a small parasol. The system was explicitly designed to be ultra-lightweight and easy to operate.
Security: The system operates in approved ISM bands (400-440 MHz) or temporarily authorised military frequencies, using low transmission power for reduced detectability. LoRa modulation and AES-128 encryption are used for enhanced communication security.
Mobility: Due to its special design, the ground station weighs only 200 g. The sonde including the balloon has been reduced to only 30 g which reduces helium consumption by up to 66%, lowering operational and logistical costs.
Features and benefits
Features
- Total system weight incl. portable case only 3 kg
- Meets STANAG 4082 and STANAG 4140 requirements
- Cut-down and delete functions secure sensitive data (encryption key, GPS data)
- Multi sounding capabilities
- Dropsonde capability
- Internal battery for ground station (up to 15h)
- Developed in accordance with EN 302 054, the harmonised European standard for meteorological aids
Benefits
- Secure communication and reduced detectability - sensitive GPS coordinates are no longer visible to unauthorised third parties
- Up to 66% reduction in the amount of helium required, lowering operational and logistical efforts and costs
- Ultra-lightweight system suitable for use in highly mobile operations
- Combat-ready system tested and approved by the German armed forces
- All relevant meteorological data formats are available: MET-CM, MET-3B, .temp, Wind-Layers etc.
- CE-certified