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).
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?
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?
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.
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.