Blimps have long been popular for their recreational value and probably the Zeppelins were the best variations with the ability to accomplish purposeful assignments (once used as bombers and scouts). After a long gap of six decades or even more, Zeppelins have been redeemed as the Long Endurance Multi-INT Vehicle, or LEMV. This time around, the Zeppelins as hybrid unmanned airships would be tested for surveillance missions in Afghanistan.
The Army wants to substitute the UAVs with these blimps given their endurance, carrying capacity and the relative speed. The LEMV can be launched for a three-week-long mission and can cover up to 2500 miles, carrying a payload of 2500lb at an altitude of 20,000 ft.
These specs are good enough to gather a hefty amount of information. It also has a rapid deflation device that will ground the ship quickly if control is lost, thus preventing it from straying into restricted airspace or the payload from falling into treacherous hands. If the tests are successful, a stronger Zeppelin able of carrying 7,000lbs of payload for a month’s time would be manufactured.
Via: PopSci
