Paper Title
A Case Study On Application of Near-Space Airship Technology In the Battlefield: Libya Operation

Abstract
Near-space is the region surrounding the earth which is too dense for a satellite to fly and also too thin for air breathing vehicles to fly. The near-space region which is located between 65,000 and 325,000 feet is really underutilized despite its unique potential. Unmanned near-space airships and high altitude balloons can be used to exploit the potential of near space. Lighter than air vehicles, which are used in the near-space region that are not affected by neither weather events nor ionospheric effects, can create operationally and economically significant space effects without reaching hundreds of kilometers up high. In this paper Operation Odyssey Dawn and Operation Unified Protector that were carried out in the near past in Libya by NATO and other coalition countries were analyzed. How near-space airships could have contributed was studied. It was shown that near-space airships with large effect area, high resolution and persistent coverage capabilities can greatly contribute in air operations in which low threat level is expected from high altitude. Keywords- Near-Space, Airship, Persistency, ISR