Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) has confirmed its first military reservations for the Airlander 10, marking a new phase for the UK-built hybrid airship, which is already backed by around $2 billion in civil market commitments.
An undisclosed defence contractor has reserved three Airlander 10 aircraft. Although the Airlander 10 was initially designed for civilian certification, it can be adapted for defence use. The aircraft offers extended endurance of up to five days without refuelling and can operate from flat terrain or water. These features make it suitable for surveillance, logistics, and communications operations where conventional aircraft face limitations.
George Land, Executive Director – Sales at Hybrid Air Vehicles Ltd, said the order underscores growing military confidence in the platform’s capabilities. “Its versatility, high payload, and endurance have always given Airlander 10 obvious advantages over other aircraft in C4ISR. As warfare evolves to meet current threats this capability is ever more valuable, and we have worked hard to showcase the aircraft’s capabilities. We are pleased to be working with an undisclosed customer to provide three aircraft for further customisation. We expect other military reservations to follow and look forward to providing more detail in the future.”
The announcement supports HAV’s ongoing manufacturing expansion in Doncaster. The company is developing a 124-acre production site at Carcroft Common, supported by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority. Once operational, the facility is expected to generate more than 1,200 skilled jobs and stimulate supply chain growth within the South Yorkshire Investment Zone.
HAV has also opened a new office in Doncaster city centre to support its workforce and preparations for large-scale production. The milestone strengthens the firm’s position in both commercial and defence aviation markets, signalling growing interest in hybrid aircraft as a low-emission, long-endurance alternative to traditional aviation platforms.
 has confirmed its first military reservations for the Airlander 10, marking a new phase for the UK-built hybrid airship already backed by around $2 billion in civil market commitments.){kind=link}