list of references but its sources remain unclear because it has insufficient inline citations . please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations . august 2014 learn how and when to remove this template message rt type privately held company industry aerospace founded 1996 founder rami shmueli headquarters yavne israel key people ceo rami shmueli products aerostats owner shmueli and aeronautics defense systems group website www.rt.co.il rt aerostats systems is an israeli company that designs and manufactures the skystar family of aerostats for use in intelligence surveillance reconnaissance and communications applications . 1 the company was established by former military intelligence and current ceo rami shmueli and is currently owned in equal parts by shmueli and the aeronautics group . the company headquarters and production lines are based in yavne israel while the company also has offices in texas . 2 contents 1 history 2 products 3 references 4 external links history edit the company was established in 1996 by rami shmueli as a company for the production of technology aerostats and balloon advertising . in 1996 the first aerostat for use in surveillance and monitoring applications was developed for the shachal company . citation needed in 2004 the company developed a family of skystar aerostats for use in intelligence surveillance reconnaissance and communications applications . skystar systems are operational worldwide in various military and civilian missions . in 2008 the uav aeronautics group purchased part of rt s shares . citation needed the systems are currently deployed in about 10 different countries around the world including israel 3 canada united states 4 russia afghanistan mexico thailand columbia and africa . in israel the skystar aerostats were deployed by the idf during operation protective edge . 5 6 as of may 2016 the skystar systems have gained over one million operational hours . 7 citation needed at july 2016 rt established a subsidiary company named aero t which specializes in the development and manufacture of large aerostats . 8 aero t s first product the skyguard1 is a large aerostat in a blimp shape which can carry payloads of up to 90 kg reach altitudes of up to 1 000 meters and operate continuously for 7 days without maintenance . 9 products edit skystar 300 a large tactical aerostat with a maximum altitude 1 500 ft agl and a maximum payload mass of 50 kg . the system s end of life was in december 31 2015 10 skystar 330 a large tactical aerostat . base on the skystar 300 with four optical fiber tether and an upgraded navigation system . 11 skystar 250 a medium sized tactical aerostat with a maximum altitude 1 000 ft agl and a maximum payload mass of 11 kg . 12 skystar 220 a medium sized tactical aerostat with a maximum altitude of 1 000 ft agl and a maximum payload mass of 9.5 kg . 13 skystar 180 a small tactical aerostat with a maximum altitude of 1 000 ft agl and a maximum payload mass of 6.5 kg . 14 skystar 100 a mini aerostat compact system that can be transported assembled launched and operated by two personnel with minimal training . 15 references edit about us . www.rt.co.il . retrieved 2016 03 30 . rtlta 2013 12 11 i24news report retrieved 2016 03 30 http www.israeldefense.co.il en content surveillance aerostats rt use israel police . www.israeldefense.co.il . retrieved 2016 07 24 . external link in title help rt lta systems skystar 180 selected for purchase by us army unmanned systems technology . 2015 03 19 . retrieved 2016 07 24 . sky eyes spy balloons give israel intelligence edge in west bank . retrieved 2016 07 24 . a common sight during the gaza war idf s reliance on aerostat balloons is up . the jerusalem post jpost.com . retrieved 2016 07 24 . rt announces new isr payload for skystar 330 aerostat unmanned systems technology . 2016 05 09 . retrieved 2016 07 24 . rt lta enters the large aerostats market with a new subsidiary aero t . jewish business news . retrieved 2016 07 31 . israel s rt develops high altitude surveillance blimp ihs jane s 360 . www.janes.com . retrieved 2016 07 31 . skystar 300 . www.rt.co.il . retrieved 2016 03 30 . idf replacing aerostats with new skystar 330 . janes.com . retrieved 18 january 2016 . skystar 250 . www.rt.co.il . retrieved 2016 03 30 . skystar 220 . www.rt.co.il . retrieved 2016 03 30 . news watch a balloon s eye view of the tel aviv pride parade . ynet . retrieved 2016 03 30 . rt lta systems to introduce mini aerostat system at eurosatory . www.defenseworld.net . retrieved 2016 03 30 . external links edit official website us army likes how israeli smart balloon flies the times of israel may 30 2014 rt delivers first three skystar 180 aerostats to the american army israel defense july 13 2011 israeli firm provides power by the hour intel in gaza defensenews july 29 2014 to help quell riots israeli police deploy sophisticated spy balloons over jerusalem fox news november 26 2014 retrieved from 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