You are at netAirspace : Forum : Air and Space Forums : Military Aviation

Northrop Gets Contract For Hybrid Airship

Your online Air Force Base.
 

futurecaptain 15 Jun 10, 01:13Post
Northrop Grumman intends to spark a hybrid airship revival with a $517 million contract awarded today to deliver three slightly heavier-than-air aircraft to the US Army for deployment to Afghanistan. ...

Unlike blimps, hybrid airships require propulsion to takeoff and forward movement to remain aloft. Once popular as military surveillance and cargo aircraft, the US Navy retired its last hybrid airships in the 1950s....

LEMV requirements call for an aircraft that can remain aloft at 20,000ft for three weeks without landing. Each aircraft also must carry multiple intelligence payloads weighing up to 1,134kg (2,500lb), provide up to 16kW power and achieve a maximum speed of 80kt (148km/h).


http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/06/15/343259/video-northrop-grumman-wins-race-to-revive-hybrid-airships-with-517-million-order.html

Video in the article too. Ugly looking thing IMO.
No electrons were hurt in the making of this post
halls120 (Plank Owner) 15 Jun 10, 01:24Post
I've got to ask the obvious question - while the blimp will be able to loiter at 20,000 feet for extended periods, isn't it going to be a wee bit of an easy target as it takes off and lands for anyone with a Stinger or SA-18 going to be able to take it out?
At home in the PNW and loving it
Airfoilsguy (Founding Member) 15 Jun 10, 03:20Post
halls120 wrote:I've got to ask the obvious question - while the blimp will be able to loiter at 20,000 feet for extended periods, isn't it going to be a wee bit of an easy target as it takes off and lands for anyone with a Stinger or SA-18 going to be able to take it out?



I don't think you would need even that. A Barrett 50 would probably do the trick
AndesSMF (Founding Member) 15 Jun 10, 03:35Post
These are infrared seeking missiles. I would guess that this airship will have low infrared energy.
Einstein said two things were infinite; the universe, and stupidity. He wasn't sure about the first, but he was certain about the second.
JeffSFO (Photo Quality Screener & Founding Member) 15 Jun 10, 06:18Post
halls120 wrote:I've got to ask the obvious question - while the blimp will be able to loiter at 20,000 feet for extended periods, isn't it going to be a wee bit of an easy target as it takes off and lands for anyone with a Stinger or SA-18 going to be able to take it out?


That's too high for those kinds of missiles.
halls120 (Plank Owner) 15 Jun 10, 11:37Post
JeffSFO wrote:
halls120 wrote:I've got to ask the obvious question - while the blimp will be able to loiter at 20,000 feet for extended periods, isn't it going to be a wee bit of an easy target as it takes off and lands for anyone with a Stinger or SA-18 going to be able to take it out?


That's too high for those kinds of missiles.


Yes, but it's going to take awhile to reach 20,000 feet. I'm thinking the airship will be very vulnerable up to 10,000.
At home in the PNW and loving it
JeffSFO (Photo Quality Screener & Founding Member) 15 Jun 10, 11:47Post
halls120 wrote:
JeffSFO wrote:
halls120 wrote:I've got to ask the obvious question - while the blimp will be able to loiter at 20,000 feet for extended periods, isn't it going to be a wee bit of an easy target as it takes off and lands for anyone with a Stinger or SA-18 going to be able to take it out?


That's too high for those kinds of missiles.


Yes, but it's going to take awhile to reach 20,000 feet. I'm thinking the airship will be very vulnerable up to 10,000.


Ah yes, good point. I glanced over your original statement so missed that part, sorry. I suppose they could launch and recover at night or from Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan.
MD11Engineer 15 Jun 10, 17:58Post
Why didn´t they just ask the Zeppelin company? They still exist and are still involved in the airship business.

Jan
 

Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest

LEFT

RIGHT
CONTENT