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Spies in the sky
Military technology: Blimps equipped with remote-sensing electronics are cheaper than drone aircraft, and have many other advantages
Jun 4th 2009
Tuesday February 7th 2012
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The use of the term "blimp" for a tethered balloon is misleading. Blimps have engines and can be flown around; tethered balloons are aerostats that are fixed to the ground. It is possible to have an aerostat in the back of a truck with a supply of helium to inflate it, but it is hard to envision a similar scenario for blimp. The points made on costs and capabilities of buoyant aircraft are generally correct. As autonomous vehicles with the ability to provide persistent surveillance, airships are much superior to fixed-wing aircraft. The real significance of renewed military interest in surveillance airships is the possibility that once more investment is directed to buoyanct aircraft technology it will push cargo airship technology over the tipping point.
Good article.
Bet the aerospace industry hate blimps - a threat to drones and the outrageous profits they make on them.
They should also replace navy helicopters in many scenarios.