aerostat

American  

[air-uh-stat] / ˈɛər əˌstæt /

noun

1. any lighter-than-air aircraft, as a balloon or dirigible.

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aerostat British  

/ ˈɛərəˌstæt /

noun

1. a lighter-than-air craft, such as a balloon

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Other Word Forms

• aerostatic adjective

Etymology

Origin of aerostat

First recorded in 1775–85; aero- + -stat

Example Sentences

In 2018, the Academy of Opto-Electronics organized the China Aerostat Conference in Beijing with the theme of “military-civilian integration”; in 2017, the academy attended a near space summit aimed at fusing military and civilian technologies, according a summary in state media.

From Washington Post

The aircraft, technically known as an aerostat, appears to be intended to boost China’s reconnaissance capabilities in the hotly disputed Spratly Islands, according to a Nov. 24 tweet by Imagesat International.

From Washington Times

“For the first time, #China’s aerostat, probably for #military #intelligence-gathering purposes, seen by #ISI at #Mischief Reef. The use of #aerostat allows China a continuous situational awareness in this resource-rich region,” said the tweet by the company, which provides satellite information to intelligence and defense customers.

From Washington Times

The aerostat adds to ground- and ship-based radar and reconnaissance flights by China to monitor and seek to control military activity in the area by other countries, especially the United States.

From Washington Times

Miami Beach Police recently skirted a Florida ban on police drone surveillance by monitoring a crowd with a small, helium-filled blimp — or what reconnaissance experts call a “tethered aerostat.”

From Washington Times