Airlander 10 Reborn as Sentinel Hawk for US Military

The Airlander 10 will enter US military service under the name Sentinel Hawk, fitted with advanced surveillance and communications systems and engineered to remain on station for up to five days.

The aircraft has been redesigned for persistent reconnaissance, sustained patrols, communications support and target identification in contested or remote operating environments, the joint venture announced. The conversion follows a transatlantic partnership formed by British manufacturer HAV and an American company, VepTech, with VepTech named prime systems integrator for the program.

Pentagon and US Department of Defense research programs examined the Airlander platform over the past two years, and UK defence group BAE Systems participated in evaluating its military applications. VepTech, which the companies say is led by US veterans, will integrate complex radar, communications and intelligence sensors onto the airship hull for US defence customers.

Design and capabilities

The Airlander 10’s large semi-rigid, hybrid airship architecture permits installation of heavy and complex processing equipment, radar arrays, electro-optical sensors and advanced communications suites. The platform is rated to carry up to 10 tonnes of payload over more than 3,700 kilometres and can sustain continuous flight for up to five days.

Sentinel Hawk requires no conventional runway and can operate from any suitably flat surface, including uneven ground and water. The hybrid structure and propulsion architecture significantly reduce fuel use and, the manufacturers say, cut carbon emissions by up to 75 percent compared with conventional military aircraft.

The joint venture plans to produce 10 military-configured Sentinel Hawk airships per year, with projected annual revenues near $800 million. VepTech is also leading a new funding round intended to accelerate production and shorten the timeline for entry into US defence service.