Missile defense blimp!

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 18 Dec 2014 11:50:00 -0500

I am wondering what the threat is that leads to us having this requirement?

http://rt.com/usa/215403-army-surveillance-blimp-test/

Pentagon launching missile defense blimps to patrol East Coast

The US Army is set to begin testing its blimp-like surveillance airships, designed to help the military detect and destroy cruise missiles from attacking the nation’s capital and other East Coast cities.

Response by 1SG Frank Boynton made Dec 18 at 2014 11:51 AM

1SG Frank Boynton — Thu, 18 Dec 2014 11:51:26 -0500

Beats me but it's very interesting. Something is up.

Response by PFC Glen King made Dec 18 at 2014 12:06 PM

PFC Glen King — Thu, 18 Dec 2014 12:06:36 -0500

We have had these a long time. There was one at Ft Huachuca when I was stationed there in 95. I believe that it was for checking immigration. I was down there a couple of years ago, and they had one also.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Dec 19 at 2014 1:50 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Fri, 19 Dec 2014 13:50:50 -0500

Once upon a time, while roaming the commercial-industrial areas of Irvine, California, I cam across a small company designing lighter-than air ships. Most were hybrids. Some with multiple helicopter-like rotors for heavy lifting (as in lifting bundles of logs out of a forest). The owner put aside his work for a while to explain his passion for these craft. It was truly interesting learning about the advantages of endurance, maneuverability, and other features of lighter than air craft.

Recently, I read of naval exercises conducted in the Caribbean wherein the military tested and failed combating cruise missile attacks. These weapons present peculiar problems to defenders (which may be why the US has embraced them and used them successfully in attack roles).

It appears now that our nascent enemies are developing or expanding cruise missile capabilities. It only seems logical that lighter than air craft could find a role to play in defense against this threat.