Sierra Nevada Corp., a Sparks-based defense contractor, has received a purchase order for initial development of a high-altitude airship to be used by the U.S.Naval Air Systems Command.
The unmanned airship, which would be used for communication and surveillance, could fly for up to two days at 20,000 feet.
Naval experts have said that unmanned airships can operate at 25 to 30 percent of the cost of fixed-wing aircraft or helicopters.
Privately held Sierra Nevada Corp.
is developing the airship in partnership with Techsphere Systems International LLC of Atlanta.
Sierra Nevada is the prime contractor on the project and provides technology, payload and sensor integration.
A Techsphere executive said last week that the companies plan to deliver an operational version of the airship in late spring.
