Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:09:43-1:10:08

Tethered airborne early warning at sea

A tethered blimp could lift radar, but its vulnerability and the availability of tethered drones make it an uncertain naval solution.

AerostatsAirborne Early WarningEscort ShipsNaval RadarTethered Drones
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Question

Would a tethered blimp make sense for airborne early warning from an escort ship?

Short answer

Possibly, but it may reveal the ship and be an easy target; tethered drones offer another way to elevate radar.

Notes

A tethered aerostat could lift radar high enough to extend an escort's horizon. The tether and visible balloon would also advertise the host ship's position and present an exposed target. Tethered drones offer another way to keep a sensor aloft without using a traditional blimp. The exchange leaves the platform choice open while identifying the tradeoff between elevated radar coverage and survivability.