Paris to Use Video Surveillance Balloon in Wake of Terrorist Attacks, During Climate Change Summit

The Skystar 180 flies up to 1,000 feet in the air and can operate for 72 consecutive hours.
Published: December 2, 2015

After the horrors of the terrorist attacks in November and with the international climate change summit in full swing, Paris is opting for an eye high in the sky to keep watch over the city.

That eye? A video surveillance balloon.

TechTimes reports the Paris municipal police deployed an Israeli-made surveillance balloon — the Skystar 180— that will keep watch over 200 delegates. The system will be used for video surveillance, intelligence, communications and reconnaissance.

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Skystar 180 provides midrange surveillance to French police as it can fly up to 1,000 feet in altitude and can operate for 72 consecutive hours. It requires a brief 20-minute re-inflation period after the 72 hours run out.

Yavne-based RT systems, the manufacturer of the system, says Skystar 180’s 360° functionality provides police with automatic scans and high-quality surveillance, ideal for reconnaissance use.

The terrorist attacks in Paris on Nov. 13 left a reported 130 dead and more than 360 people injured. Paris is hosting the United Nations Climate Change Conference, which started on Nov. 20 and wraps up on Dec. 11.

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