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From: daly@strawber.princeton.edu (John Daly)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: Airships?
Keywords: AEW, ASW
Message-ID: <1991Jun12.012551.25267@amd.com>
Date: 10 Jun 91 13:59:09 GMT
Article-I.D.: amd.1991Jun12.012551.25267
References: <1991May31.061011.12752@amd.com> <1991Jun7.072129.8013@amd.com> <1991Jun10.023344.12415@amd.com>
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Organization: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (CFD)
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From: daly@strawber.princeton.edu (John Daly)


It seems to me that lighter-than-air would be most adaptable to AEW and
ASW roles, where endurance is the critical factor.  The primary
advantage of airships over conventional aircraft is that they can stay
aloft almost indefinitely without refueling.

An AWACS version of a lighter-than-air craft would be capable of
providing continuous radar coverage of an area comparable to that
covered by the E-3A with a single inexpensive vehicle.  Since it can
remain on station for weeks at a time, one might even develop it into
sort of an airborne AEGIS by using fiber-optic data links to interface
with ground based weapons directors and AAW/ASuW.

As far as anti-submarine warfare is concerned, helicopters tend to be
our most effective ASW platforms at present.  Their primary limitation
is range.  An airship would be the equivalent of a P-3C with helo-like
loiter capability and unlimited range.  If airships are capable of
sustained speeds of 40+ knots then they will make relentless submarine
hunters.