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TCOM- Global Leader in Persistent Surveillance Aerostats ISR Solutions
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Posts

Headquarters

December 19, 2012/0 Comments/in Facilities /by gal
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Manufacturing

December 19, 2012/0 Comments/in Facilities /by gal
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Manufacturing and Flight Test Facility

December 19, 2012/0 Comments/in Facilities /by gal
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Home Caption 4

September 26, 2012/0 Comments/in home slider /by gal

TCOM offers the world’s largest selection of proven aerostat solutions that counter the tactical, operational and strategic threats faced by our customer-nations.

End-to-end systems engineered for any environment.

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Home Caption 3

September 26, 2012/0 Comments/in home slider /by gal

We provide our customers with innovation, responsiveness and best value by leveraging our advanced technology, skilled workforce and over 40 years of proven experience.

TCOM advancements continue to define the industry.

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Home Caption 2

June 19, 2012/0 Comments/in home slider /by gal

TCOM is the proven global leader for innovative, cost-effective Airborne Persistent Surveillance solutions protecting national security in the world’s most demanding operational environments.

TCOM aerostat systems are Soldiers of the Skies.

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Home Caption 1

June 19, 2012/0 Comments/in home slider /by gal

Expanding airborne persistent surveillance horizons efficiently and economically, TCOM systems detect potential threats by air, over land, and by sea, providing actionable intelligence in a timely manner.

TCOM makes persistent surveillance affordable.

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Pages

Sea Based Aerostats

July 31, 2013/0 Comments/by gal

Sea Based Aerostat Gallery

View images of TCOM Sea Based Aerostats. TCOM is the global leader in aerostat persistent surveillance solutions, providing total domain awareness over air, land and sea. TCOM systems provide affordable and economical persistent surveillance for military, defense, law-enforcement, border security and communications applications.

Abshire tide TCOM sea based aerostat Carlson tide TCOM sea based aerostat Dickerson tide TCOM sea based aerostat
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Payloads

December 12, 2012/0 Comments/by gal

Aerostat Payload Gallery

TCOM is the global leader in airborne persistent surveillance solutions, providing actionable intelligence rapidly and reliably in the world’s most challenging operational environments. TCOM aerostat systems can accommodate various payloads including communications equipment, radar, infrared, and video surveillance. Payloads can be customized to meet any mission over air, land or sea.

17M payload 22M payload 71M payload
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74M Aerostats

November 13, 2012/0 Comments/by gal

74M Aerostat Gallery

View images of TCOM 74M aerostat systems. TCOM is the global leader in aerostat persistent surveillance solutions, providing total domain awareness over air, land and sea. TCOM systems provide affordable and economical persistent surveillance for military, defense, law-enforcement, border security and communications applications.

74M blimp aloft 74M blimp at mooring station 74M in desert 74M blimp elevated 74M First Flight North Carolina 74M blimp with mooring station
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71M Aerostats

August 10, 2012/0 Comments/by gal

71M Aerostat Gallery

View images of TCOM 71M aerostat systems. TCOM is the global leader in aerostat persistent surveillance solutions, providing total domain awareness over air, land and sea. TCOM systems provide affordable and economical persistent surveillance for military, defense, law-enforcement, border security and communications applications.

71M aerostat blimp in Elizabeth City 71M blimp from below 71M blimp at Georgetown 71M blimp in flight 71M blimp at sunset 71M blimp stationed
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Platforms

July 12, 2012/0 Comments/by gal

Platforms

KEY DETAILS

Designed to meet mission objectives in any domain

Customized for air, land and sea surveillance applications

Affordable, reliable persistent surveillance solutions

TCOM Aerostat Classes

Tactical, Operational and Strategic Solutions Designed to Meet Any Mission

Maintaining continuous aerial security is a daunting task. Threats such as low-flying, extremely fast aircraft can take advantage of the earth’s curvature and exploit terrain obstructions. This renders ground-based radars unable to provide target information in time to take appropriate action.  Slow, low flying missiles with a small cross section may also avoid early detection and pose a significant threat. Manned aerial surveillance can decrease the risk for short periods of heightened alert, but the operational costs are much too high for extended use.  To meet this airborne coverage challenge effectively and inexpensively, TCOM developed the 71M Low Altitude Surveillance System. With over 1,000,000 hours of operation these systems are the only operational airborne defense assets to routinely provide the continuous round-the-clock, low altitude target detection information needed to secure the skies.

TCOM Aerostat Classes

Tactical Class Aerostat

Tactical Class: 12M, 17M


View Details

Operational Class Areostat

Operational Class: 22M, 28M


View Details

Strategic Class Aerostat

Strategic Class: 71M, 74M


View Details

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Gallery

July 10, 2012/0 Comments/by gal

Test.

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Case Study: Kuwait

July 10, 2012/0 Comments/by gal

TIMELY DEPLOYMENT OF TCOM AEROSTAT SYSTEM SAVES LIVES IN KUWAIT

Case Study Facts:

  • Kuwaiti borders vulnerable to attack
  • Government needed total surveillance solution to monitor air, land and sea
  • TCOM 71M LASS System deployed
  • Timely deployment enabled rapid detection of invasion forces
  • Radar Operator at LASS site alerted Kuwaiti Forces
  • Enabled safe departure of Kuwaiti Royal Family
  • TCOM aerostats remain critical component of Kuwaiti border security strategy
  • Kuwaiti citizens are safer thanks to TCOM persistent surveillance systems
TCOM challenge icon

The Challenge


During the months preceding the first Gulf War, Kuwaiti security forces were faced with unique surveillance challenges. Forces needed to maintain awareness of activities along the interior border with Iraq, along the coast of the Persian Gulf, as well as in the surrounding airspace. Without total domain awareness, the nation was particularly vulnerable to attack.

TCOM solution icon

The Solution


The Kuwaiti government turned to TCOM, the leader in persistent airborne surveillance, to solve the border surveillance issues using an aerostat system. Just two months after becoming operational, a TCOM LASS (Low Altitude Surveillance System) provided vital early warning of the Iraqi invasion that allowed the Kuwaiti Royal Family to escape. The TCOM 71M Aerostat system had been operating continuously at high altitude for 6 days when, in the very early hours after midnight, its radar payload provided the first alert of Iraqi helicopter activity and mass crossing of Iraqi tanks across the Kuwaiti air and land borders.

A radar operator at the site was credited with alerting the Kuwaiti Air Force Officers of the impending invasion. This early warning allowed security forces to arrange the safe departure of the Emir and his family from Kuwait. TCOM employees at the LASS site continued to operate the system for four more hours during the invasion before safely fleeing the site.

TCOM result icon

The Result


Since the initial detection of invading Iraqi forces, TCOM aerostat surveillance systems have been an integral component to Kuwaiti border security programs. Currently, a TCOM 71M Aerostat system provides persistent surveillance along the Kuwaiti borders, simultaneously detecting and tracking low flying aircraft, surface vessels and ground movers. Ultimately, the Kuwaiti borders – and Kuwaiti citizens – are safer thanks to TCOM persistent surveillance systems.

Download Case Study
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Aerostat Lifecycle Support

July 10, 2012/0 Comments/by gal

End-to-End Aerostat Lifecycle Support

Following customer acceptance of the turnkey system, TCOM provides enhanced aerostat Lifecycle Support (LCS) of the system that will significantly benefit the End User for the life of the system.

Proven Expertise

TCOM’s proven approach to aerostat lifecycle support for fielded systems is based on our expertise in anticipating each system’s needs, balancing availability with affordability, and assigning Headquarters and Field personnel familiar with the system.   The support assumes that Operation & Maintenance of the system is being performed by properly trained customer personnel using TCOM supplied documentation, and includes the following elements:

Supply Support:  Initial Provisioning of spare parts, support and test equipment and periodic re-provisioning based on failures and usage.

Warranty Support: Processing of warranty claims in a timely manner during the warranty period and repair or replacement of the item in question.

Logistics Monitoring: A Logistics Engineer is assigned to each program to maintain a logistic data base which tracks usage/failures in the field and tracks and expedites return of repairables.

Obsolescence Monitoring: TCOM utilizes a COTS obsolescence software tool to actively monitor Bills of Material for obsolete items. TCOM will offer a quantity buy or a design upgrade for the item.

Mod Kits to implement system improvements and/or Upgrades that are driven by emerging needs from customer, feedback from field or operators, or improvements supplied with newer systems. 

Improving Availability and Efficiency

Based on many years of experience operating and maintaining aerostat systems, TCOM’s proven aerostat Lifecycle Support has helped to increase aerostat systems availability in an efficient and cost effective manner. To better support our expanding business base, TCOM increased our support capability by adding a well-equipped Logistics Center at our MFTF in Elizabeth City, NC.

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Turnkey Installation

July 10, 2012/0 Comments/by gal

Support from Start to Finish

TCOM provides single point responsibility for the overall system performance and continuing aerostat support essential for the reliable and consistent performance of the Aerostat Surveillance System.

After the system has successfully completed all its formal testing at our Manufacturing and Flight Test Facility, it is shipped to the customer.  TCOM’s Field Operations & Support (FOS) group, supported by TCOM’s headquarters design and systems engineering groups, provides the in-country expertise for on-site installation, on-the-job training and integration into existing networks.

The Turnkey Installation Solution Includes:

  • Site survey, design and construction
  • Installation of the aerostat subsystems that make up the aerostat system
  • Integration of the aerostat system with the site infrastructure
  • Payloads integration including providing connectivity with the customer’s command centers and data/communications network
  • On-site formal classroom training and/or on-the-job-training (OJT)
  • O&M support as required
  • Logistics support to integrate spares and support equipment into a tracking database

Experienced Personnel Ensure Success

TCOM FOS pools of field engineers have trained and experienced personnel with the skillsets to supply a turnkey aerostat support solution from installation and checkout (I&CO) of the system to when the system is handed over to the customer for operation and maintenance (O&M). TCOM has installed aerostat systems in more countries than any other aerostat system manufacturer.

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Manufacturing

July 10, 2012/0 Comments/by gal

Advanced Aerostat Manufacturing Facilities

TCOM produces the most advanced, state-of-the-art and reliable aerostat systems in the world.  This is accomplished by having the latest aerostat manufacturing technology, equipment, facilities and tooling to bring our advanced designs to life. We offer capabilities and experience manufacturing aerostat and airship flex structures, mooring stations, avionics, tethers and ground support equipment.

Complete Systems Manufacturing

TCOM is the only LTA Company in the world that has a facility devoted to aerostat manufacturing, airship manufacturing, assembly, flight test and training operations – all in a single location.  We manufacture the world’s largest aerostats and are capable of manufacturing, inflating, rigging, and testing them all while protected from the weather inside our hangar.  We also perform integration and flight testing onsite at our new flight pad. Our aerostats are manufactured using highly engineered, TCOM-designed base fabric.  The fabrics are then seamed together using specialized equipment designed by TCOM for the sole purpose of building our flex structures.  Once assembled, they are air inflated and tested, then inflated with helium.  After helium inflation, the hardware and rigging is installed which prepares the aerostat for integration with the rest of the system.

Our new, state-of-the-art mooring station manufacturing facility is conveniently located adjacent to the hangar.  All assembly and testing of the mooring stations is conducted in this central facility. Prior to integration with the aerostat and surveillance components, the mooring stations are passed through a rigorous acceptance procedure to ensure all functionality. Once the mooring structure, boom, tower, and other major portions are assembled together, integration of the machinery, electrical and hydraulic systems takes place. The system’s avionics are also designed and manufactured by TCOM in an environmentally controlled area located at the headquarters facility.  After all the components are procured and inspected, material kits are put into the shop for assembly and unit testing.  TCOM employs a highly trained and experienced staff dedicated to wiring all the electronic items for the aerostat, mooring system and ground station.  In addition, we build swivel slip-rings and perform tether termination and break testing, and perform thermal cycling and stress testing.

Once all of the electronics components have passed unit test, they are assembled together as a functional system and fully tested against rigorous acceptance standards.  If payloads are available, they can be integrated at the electronics manufacturing facility or later with the complete system at the hangar.  After the aerostat, mooring system, and avionics subsystems are completed, they are integrated together at the new flight pad, located at the Manufacturing Flight and Test Facility.  Flight tests then begin as the complete system functionality is tested.

Quality Assurance

The Elizabeth City aerostat Manufacturing and Flight Test Facility enables TCOM to provide customers with an unparalleled level of quality assurance, training, ongoing operations and field support services. This facility has become the East Coast hub for all airship maintenance and assembly activities.  The ability of TCOM to manufacture complete systems, rather than just sub-assemblies, provides us the flexibility to change quickly when needed to accommodate our customers’ needs.

 

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Contact Us

General Inquiries:

E: aerostat@tcomlp.com
T: 001.410.312.2300
F: 001.410.312.2455

Media/PR Inquiries:

E: media@tcomlp.com

Corporate Headquarters

TCOM, L. P.
7115 Thomas Edison Dr.
Columbia, MD 21046

Aerostats Systems

  • Platforms
  • Tactical Class Aerostats
  • Operational Class Aerostats
  • Strategic Class Aerostats

Domain Applications

  • Air Surveillance Systems
  • Land Surveillance Systems
  • Sea Surveillance Systems

Total Systems Capabilities

  • Design
  • Integration
  • Manufacturing
  • Turnkey Installation

Integrated Logistics Support

  • Aerostat Lifecycle Support
  • Documentation
  • Training
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