Lockheed Martin-Spinoff AT2 Aerospace Aims to Connect Remote Areas with Hybrid Airship
Date: March 21, 2025
The AT2 Aerospace Z1 airship, initially conceptualized over twenty years ago when Lockheed Martin collaborated with DARPA to create a non-rigid tri-lobe design, is set to revolutionize the transportation of goods and people to the most isolated regions of the world. Previously tested as the P-791 demonstrator, the Z1 incorporates innovative technologies to ensure efficient travel.
Engineered to deliver a combination of hydrogen-powered thrust vectoring alongside helium buoyancy, the Z1 can transport people and cargo over 1,000 miles (1,600 km) in one go. This remarkable airship is tailored to reach some of the globe’s most inaccessible destinations and employs proprietary Air Cushion landing gear, enabling it to touch down on various surfaces, including water.
The AT2 airship stands out by merging lighter-than-air lift with aerodynamic principles that enhance stability and maneuverability. Its unique hull shape alongside control surfaces operate similarly to an airplane wing, which helps in generating lift. Powered by vectored thrust engines—either electric or hybrid-electric—mounted on adjustable nacelles, the airship can hover and perform vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) with impressive control.
With a sophisticated fly-by-wire system, the AT2 adjusts thrust, control surfaces, and gas pressure for optimum performance, while ballonet air chambers manage buoyancy, allowing for altitude adjustments without loss of helium. This promises a new era in remote logistics and transportation, providing vital assistance in areas that previously relied on less efficient means of supply.
For those interested in the advancements of military and aerospace technology, further insights can be gleaned through articles exploring successful airship flights by UMAV as well as new developments in electric extended-range airships.
UMAV’s Successful USAF Airship Flight
Massive Airship Debuts at Moffett Field
DATT MA 600 Electric Extended Range Airship Development
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