What Allsopp Helikites does

Allsopp Helikites Ltd. is a privately-held UK manufacturer of tethered aerostats — branded as Helikites — that combine helium balloon lift with kite-derived aerodynamic lift via a rigid carbon-fibre spine and an oblate-spheroid envelope. The technology is officially classified as a distinct aircraft type by both the British Civil Aviation Authority and US Customs, and is described in the company's own materials as the only compact aerostat capable of reliable all-weather operation at sea, with deployment altitudes up to 7,000 ft. The product range spans 1m3 to 100m3 platforms under three primary variants — Skyhook (general purpose), Desert Star (military/desert) and the 4GRemote Helikite (communications) — plus integrated systems such as STMPAS (US Army base protection), BABLOS (Royal Marines radio relay) and Ocean-Eye (maritime oil-spill detection, co-developed with Maritime Robotics).

The company sells predominantly to military, government and research customers worldwide, with disclosed users such as the US Army, US Navy, British Army, Royal Marines, Australian Defence Force, Sandia National Laboratories, the British Antarctic Survey, and the Norwegian Clean Seas Association (NOFO). Go-to-market is direct sales through defence and emergency-services procurement, supplemented by consortium activity — most notably the EU ABSOLUTE Project with Thales, Orange, DLR, Fraunhofer, and EUTELSAT, which positions the Helikite as a rapidly deployable 4G aerial base station for emergency response. Pricing is not publicly disclosed, and the company operates from a single headquarters and manufacturing facility in Fordingbridge, Hampshire.

No revenue, headcount, funding or ownership figures are publicly disclosed. The business appears to be bootstrapped, privately held, and project-driven, with revenue likely concentrated in a small number of defence and emergency-services contracts rather than high-volume distributed sales.

Name

Allsopp Helikites

Legal name

Allsopp Helikites Ltd.

Website

https://4gremote.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Allsopp Helikites Ltd. is a privately-held UK manufacturer of tethered Helikite aerostats — hybrid helium-and-kite platforms used for military surveillance, radio relay, oil-sell response, and rapidly deployable 4G emergency communications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Tethered Aerostat Systems

NAICS

Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)

akta.pro primary industry

Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) & Multirotor Drones (IMABAIAA)

Keywords

• Tethered aerostats
• Hybrid kite-balloon systems
• Aerial communications platforms
• Emergency response equipment
• Surveillance aerostat systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Fordingbridge

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Allsopp Helikites manufactures tethered hybrid kite-balloon aerostats ('Helikites') in sizes from approximately 1m³ to 100m³ that lift modular payloads including 4G communications base stations, surveillance cameras, radio-relay antennas and meteorological sensors. Its products are sold to military forces, emergency services, government agencies, research institutions and maritime/environmental organisations for applications ranging from rapid deployable emergency broadband to persistent over-the-horizon communications and surveillance.

Product overview

Allsopp Helikites Ltd offers a portfolio of tethered aerostat products centered on the 4G Remote Helikite system and the ABSOLUTE PROJECT for emergency communications. The 4G Remote Helikite is a hybrid kite-balloon aerostat fitted with 4G communications providing rapidly deployable broadband networks with 20-50 mile coverage. The ABSOLUTE PROJECT is a European consortium initiative for aerial base stations supporting emergency services. Supporting these core offerings are specialized Helikite variants including the Desert Star (military/desert operations, 7-100m3), Skyhook (general purpose, 1-60m3), and purpose-built systems such as Ocean-Eye for maritime oil spill detection, BABLOS for Bowman radio range extension, and STMPAS for military base protection. The company also provides various payload options including gyro-stabilized cameras, radio-relay equipment, and meteorological sensors. Helikites operate at altitudes up to 7000ft and are certified by US Customs as 'other non-powered aircraft' and by the British CAA as distinct from kites and balloons.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 4GRemote Helikite: 4G communications system deployed on Helikite aerostats for rapidly deployable emergency communications networks.
• STMPAS
• BABLOS
• Ocean-Eye

Products and services

• 4G Remote Helikite A Helikite hybrid kite-balloon aerostat fitted with 4G communications equipment to provide a rapidly deployable broadband network, delivering 20–50 miles of coverage versus about 2 miles ground-based. Intended for governments, emergency services, disaster relief and communications specialists that need persistent all-weather coverage.
• ABSOLUTE Project — Aerial Base Station Consortium-led aerial base station system using Helikites to deliver rapidly deployable, flexible and scalable 4G broadband for emergency services, natural disasters, and temporary events. Reconfigurable, dependable, easily deployable, and usable in remote areas and most weather conditions.
• Desert Star Helikite A rugged Helikite variant optimised for desert and harsh-environment operations, available from 7m³ up to 100m³, used for military surveillance, radio relay, and force protection. Has been deployed by the US Army (75m³ for STMPAS) and British Army (34m³ with E/O-IR cameras to 3,000 ft).
• Skyhook Helikite General-purpose Helikite aerostat available from 1m³ to 60m³, used by research institutions and others for aerial photography, radio relay, meteorological measurements, and surveillance. Documented deployments include Cambridge archaeology at Amarna, University of Millersville atmospheric tethersondes, and British Antarctic Survey radiosonde lifts.
• Ocean-Eye maritime airborne camera system Maritime Helikite camera system co-developed with Maritime Robotics AS that allows oil spill detection and monitoring from vessels and unmanned surface vessels. Operated by NOFO and used for oil spill response in harsh maritime conditions, including the Arctic Ocean.
• BABLOS (Bowman Aerostat Beyond Line-of-Sight) Rapid tactical range-extension system for the Bowman combat radio, using a 10m³ Desert Star Helikite to lift a wideband antenna to about 200 ft, enabling over-the-horizon radio communications. Deployed by the Royal Marines, including on Exercise Cougar in Oman and during operations from HMS Ocean.
• Small Tactical Multi-Purpose Aerostat System (STMPAS)

Quantifiable outcome

• 4G coverage extends to 20-50 miles with aerial Helikite platform compared to 2 miles without
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Thales Communications and SecuritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the ABSOLUTE Project consortium - a major European initiative to design and validate rapidly deployable, flexible and scalable broadband services for emergency situations. Thales contributes expertise in communications and security systems.
• France Telecom - Orange SAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the ABSOLUTE Project consortium bringing telecommunications expertise to the rapidly deployable 4G communications network development for emergency services.
• German Aerospace Center (DLR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerABSOLUTE Project consortium partner contributing aerospace expertise to the aerial platform development and deployment strategies.
• Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerABSOLUTE Project consortium partner contributing research and development expertise in communications technologies.
• EUTELSAT SAsupportingTechnology or IntegrationABSOLUTE Project consortium partner providing satellite communications expertise for integrating space-based communications with aerial platforms.
• University of YorksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in ABSOLUTE Project contributing research expertise from the UK.
• Create-Net Research CentersupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerItaly-based research centre contributing telecommunications and network expertise to the ABSOLUTE Project.
• University of Duisburg-EssensupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman academic partner providing research capabilities to ABSOLUTE Project consortium.
• RMIT UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralian academic partner contributing research expertise to ABSOLUTE Project for emergency communications.
• Josef Stefan InstitutesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSlovenian research institute contributing scientific expertise to ABSOLUTE Project.
• Triagnosys GmbHsupportingTechnology or IntegrationGerman technology SME contributing signal processing and communications expertise to ABSOLUTE Project.
• Nomor Research GmbHsupportingTechnology or IntegrationGerman research company providing mobile communications research expertise to ABSOLUTE Project.
• AdvantensupportingTechnology or IntegrationFrench technology partner contributing to ABSOLUTE Project emergency communications development.
• Mira TelecomsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRomanian telecom company serving as partner in ABSOLUTE Project for regional deployment.
• British Association of Public Safety Officials (BAPCO)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK public safety organisation providing domain expertise and end-user requirements for emergency communications.
• Agence Nationale des Fréquences (ANFR)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench frequency management agency contributing regulatory and spectrum expertise to ABSOLUTE Project.
• Maritime Robotics AScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorwegian company collaborating with Allsopp Helikites on maritime airborne camera systems for oil spill detection. Developed the Ocean-Eye system now in operation with NOFO and used in Norwegian oil spill response.
• Autonomous Surface Vessels Ltd (ASV)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on world's first flight of an aerostat from a remote-controlled robot boat, proving Helikites can be safely flown from USVs.
• Carolina Unmanned Vehicles IncsupportingTechnology or IntegrationUS company involved in US Army Rapid Equipping Force programs providing Helikite-based surveillance solutions for Forward Operating Bases.
• Georgia Tech UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered in STMPAS (Small Tactical Multi-Purpose Aerostat System) testing and evaluation for US Army Rapid Equipping Force.
• Advisory Board MemberssupportingOthersExternal Advisory Board includes AFAC (Australian Fire and Emergency Services), Inspectorate for Emergency Situations (Romania), Administration for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief (Slovenia), Waseda University (Japan), CEPT ECO, Civil Protection Authority of Trentino (Italy), OFCOM (UK), EASA (European), Aroso & De Laurentis (Brazil), Spanish Ministry of Defence, and Federal Agency for Technical Relief (Germany).

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• QinetiQ: QinetiQ is a UK-based defense technology and applied research company with strong heritage in aerostats, UAVs, and tactical communications, and is listed as an Allsopp operator. It is comparable as a UK-headquartered defense research house with overlapping aerostat and ISR capabilities.
• Lockheed Martin: Lockheed Martin is a global defense prime with broad ISR, aerostat, and tactical communications portfolios, and is listed as an Allsopp customer/operator. It represents a large incumbent with overlapping defense capability but a much wider portfolio across missiles, aircraft, and integrated systems.
• Elbit Systems: Elbit Systems is an Israeli defense electronics company with broad ISR, tactical radio, and unmanned systems portfolios serving militaries worldwide. It is comparable to Allsopp as a defense supplier addressing similar force protection and tactical communications missions.
• Thales Group: Thales is a European defense and aerospace prime with extensive tactical communications, surveillance, and secure-radio portfolios, and is both an Allsopp ABSOLUTE Project partner and operator. It is broadly comparable as a customer/partner and adjacent competitor in integrated tactical comms.
• BAE Systems: BAE Systems is a UK-headquartered global defense prime with extensive electronic systems, tactical communications, and ISR portfolios serving NATO militaries. It is comparable to Allsopp as a UK-rooted defense supplier addressing force protection and tactical communications missions.
• L3Harris Technologies: L3Harris is a US defense prime specializing in tactical communications, electronic warfare, and integrated mission systems. It addresses the same military radio-relay and ISR mission space as Allsopp's Helikite platforms, particularly for US and allied defense customers.
• RTX (Raytheon): RTX (parent of Raytheon, Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney) is a major US defense prime with deep capabilities in tactical communications, sensors, and integrated ISR systems. It competes with Allsopp in defense end-markets and is broadly comparable as a large-scale incumbent in adjacent mission areas.

Direct peers

• TCOM: TCOM is the leading US manufacturer of tactical tethered aerostats used for communications relay, surveillance, and force protection by defense and homeland security customers. It is the closest direct competitor to Allsopp Helikites in product category, mission profile, and customer base.
• Aerostar International: Aerostar International (now part of TCOM) is a long-established manufacturer of tethered aerostat systems for defense, border surveillance, and communications relay worldwide. It directly competes with Allsopp in the same niche of large-volume, high-altitude tethered aerostats for military and government applications.
• ILC Dover: ILC Dover designs and manufactures inflatable and aerostat-based systems for aerospace, defense, and protective applications, including tethered aerostats for communications and surveillance. It overlaps with Allsopp's hybrid aerostat technology and military customer base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Allsopp Helikites