Royal Navy May Buy British-Built Airships

The Royal Navy is considering the purchase of British-built airships, which can be used for surveillance and the resupply of Navy vessels. The modern-day Zeppelins are to undergo testing in the United States.


They can remain airborne for three weeks at a time while surveying the Taliban over a vast area, and can carry a 50-tonne load, which would enable them to transport urgent equipment parts out to ships.


Commanders are also considering using them for counter-piracy operations, because they can carry 150 commandos along with their boats.


Travelling at more than 90mph, the airship is almost three times faster than many vessels, and can go several days without refuelling.


With a mixture of 60 percent helium and 40 percent air, it is less vulnerable to enemy fire than the hydrogen-filled German Zeppelins in the First World War.


Tests have shown that bullets and even missiles can pass through the balloon without igniting the gas mixture. The airships will cost £60 million each and can be flown remotely as a drone.