The Nation - News from June 7, 1987

The Navy is having Westinghouse Electric Co. lead a project to build a new military blimp. The venture of Westinghouse and Airship Industries of Cardington, England, is to receive a $168.9-million contract to build a prototype radar-surveillance blimp, the Navy said. The blimp would carry a crew of at least 10, could be refueled at sea and would float for days above Navy battle groups to provide continuous, long-range radar protection. “They’re not as vulnerable as they look,” said Bill Phipps, president of Westinghouse Defense & Electronics Systems Co.