Tag Archives: airship

An even bigger money saver would be to transition ISR missions from pricey UAVs to airships, said Frost & Sullivan aerospace and defense industry analyst Mike Blades. High-altitude vehicles such as Global Hawk have grown far more expensive than the military initially forecast, he said. Global Hawk, in its genesis, was about building a $10 million drone that could do the job of a $100 million manned aircraft. But as more features and sensors were added to the vehicle, its price tag soared to $85 million. According to a Government Accountability Office report, its true cost (including research and development) is more than $200 million a copy.

“Lighter than air dirigibles are cheaper and can stay up for days. That’s the kind of thing you’re going to see,” said Blades. The Navy’s BAMS can stay on station for up to 34 hours.

Both the Air Force and the Navy should consider alternative systems for high-altitude ISR, he said.

Pentagon’s Asia-Pacific Strategy Elevates Navy Role in Aerial Surveillance – Blog.