Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) is making another attempt to offer the U.S. military an airship equipped for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) roles. Through a new joint venture with U.S. defense company Weapons and Tactics Alliance Group (WepTac), the UK company aims to deliver the Sentinel Hawk missionized version of the Airlander 10 it is also developing for civil applications.
The partnership first announced in late August aims to deliver a planned annual output of ten Sentinel Hawks, which HAV believes will generate around $800 million in revenue. WepTac will also lead HAV’s upcoming Series B investment round which it says is designed to accelerate production of Airlander aircraft and support the delivery of Sentinel Hawk.
According to WepTac, the defense-specific platform will be optimized for persistent ISR, resilient communications, and long-range targeting support across contested environments. “U.S fighters need persistent, affordable ISR capability they can field now – not in a decade,” said the company's co-founder and CEO Colby Fisher.
Another Shot at the ISR Market
HAV first addressed the Pentagon's ISR requirements more than a decade ago with a version of the airship developed for the U.S. Army’s now-abandoned Long-Endurance Multi-Intelligence Vehicle (LEMV) program. That platform used Northrop Grumman’s expertise in system integration, flight and ground control systems, but the U.S. Department of Defense cancelled the work in 2013 after just one flight in August 2012.
That version of the airship never deployed to Afghanistan as originally intended. A subsequent report by the U.S. government accountability office ultimately cited production complexities, integration and testing issues, and an increase in weight leading to a significantly reduced time on station.
Although LEMV had been intended to loiter with a one-ton payload for 21 days at 20,000 feet, in 2020, HAV suggested an alternative crewed surveillance role for Airlander: carrying up to three tons for five days at a lower altitude. According to the company, Airlander’s attributes make it well-suited to the mission, with a fabric-helium-filled hull offering a relatively low radar signature.
The four diesel-powered engines also offer a comparatively low heat signature, with the aircraft able to continue its mission with two powerplants inoperable. According to HAV, this approach can deliver a compelling combination of endurance, flexibility, and survivability.
In July 2025, HAV announced plans to produce up to 24 examples each year of the civilian Airlander 10—its first commercial offering—from its site in Doncaster, northern England. However, the same month, it also established a U.S. subsidiary in an undisclosed location. At the time, HAV USA lead John Schumacher said Airlander would “provide capabilities vital to U.S. national security and commerce.” In June 2026, the company also signed a memorandum of understanding with Spanish dual-use technology company Defentia for strategic collaboration opportunities in the country.
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