AEW Airships for the RAAF?

Us Navy Airship Programme Has Strong Implications for Haaf Aew Requirement

One of the more interesting systems on offer to the RAAF to fulfil their recently announced requirement for an Airborne Early Warning capability is the Australian-owned Airship Industries Sentinel 7000.

This artist’s rendition shows a Sentinel 600 refuelling from a Royal Navy Leander class frigate in the Offshore Patrol Vessel role. The USN fleet oceanic surveillance role would be undertaken by much larger craft capable of remaining on station for up to 60 days and being armed with numerous offensive and defensive weapons in addition to the AEWIASW role the airship would be undertaking

What makes their offer so interesting is the unique attributes, both positive and negative that the airship offers in addition to the sheer weight of interest presently being expressed by the US Defence Department in the future potential of such craft. Needless to say, the US Navy are leading the way as they have had a long and particularly happy relationship with airships over many decades of operation, in peace and war. So attuned is the USN that they rightly treat the airship as a “ship” rather than an aircraft and position it in their fleet tactical environment as such.

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