Could Airlander 10 Help The Military In The Future?

The world's longest aircraft the Airlander 10 has this week successfully completed its fourth test flight, reaching the highest altitude it has been so far. 

Airlander 10 cost 25 million pounds to build, she can fly to heights of up to 20,000 feet and stay airborne for 5 days during manned flights, but how might she help the military in the future?

 Well, she's designed to provide persistent wide area surveillance protecting forces on the ground.

Airlander 10 is part airship, part plane, she's 92 metres in length, 20,000kg in weight and she's held down at the front by a mooring mast but the rest of her body floats. She is quieter and emits less pollution than traditional aircraft, her top speed it 80 KNOTS.

In Autumn Airlander 10 will be available for demonstrations for customers including, they hope, the military.