The advantages of utilizing an airship as an airborne carrier for support and deployment of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) are examined. Whether as a stand-alone platform or in concert with conventional aircraft, the airship UAS carrier provides a number of compelling benefits for both military and civilian missions. As a mobile base it can remain operational despite political fallout that may render ground or ocean based UAS sites unavailable. It offers the psychological impact of a power projection tool that has few geographical limits, and holds promise as a new method for cost-saving intelligence gathering. It is also adaptable for civilian variants for supporting: emergency response, security/surveillance, delivery of medical/food supplies, as well as commercial package delivery to metropolitan and remote communities. This paper presents the background on airship-aircraft operations, and explores the general airship carrier concept. Additionally, a catalog of contemporary technologies available to support the airship carrier concept are discussed, and essential elements for an Air-Station Development program proposed.


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    Title :

    Lighter-Than-Air (LTA) "AirStation": Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Carrier Concept


    Contributors:

    Conference:

    AIAA Aviation and Aeronautics Forum and Exposition ; 2016 ; Washington, DC, United States


    Publication date :

    2016-06-13


    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




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