New Again: Innovative Missions for 21st Century American Airships

Abstract

Airships have great potential to support 21st Century American military operations in a wide variety of missions. The US should embrace airships and take the necessary steps to ensure its armed forces gain the greatest advantage from these unique platforms. Recent improvements in structural technology, propulsion systems, avionics, and sensors have greatly increased the performance of airships. Airships can be used to perform an expanding list of missions, including: intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR); airlift; communications replay; maritime patrol; theater ballistic missiles defense; and space launch. However, lack of both focus and funding is currently hampering the development, production, and integration of airships into America's 21st Century arsenal. Recent advances in airships performance, in conjunction with ongoing research and development, point to a bright future for airships in support of future US military operations. America must take the necessary steps now to gain the greatest benefits from the unique capabilities of tomorrow's airships.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2007
Accession Number
ADA505388

Entities

People

  • Daniel T. Bilko

Organizations

  • Marine Corps University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Autonomy
  • Counter WMD
  • Sensors
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Defense
  • Aircraft Equipment
  • Aircraft Industry
  • Aircrafts
  • Airframes
  • Cargo Aircraft
  • Chemical Oxygen Iodine Lasers
  • Defense Industry
  • Defense Systems
  • Earth Orbits
  • Fixed Wing Aircraft
  • Military Aircraft
  • Military Operations
  • Rotary Wing Aircraft
  • Theater Ballistic Missiles
  • Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Strategic Security Studies
  • Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Autonomous Capabilities and Mission Reconnaissance.

Technology Areas

  • Space