Military Blimps

[cwjerome]

Nah, the existing PTDS systems get pelted with small arms all the time. They have multiple layers of self sealing material and mutiple interior sections.

The biggest danger to blimps in our current operating environment are friendly helicopters clipping their tethers.

Haha... there are so many that sometimes word of a ROZ doesn't get out like it should. I remember we had to change our orbit once because some object went derelict and floated near our airpsace... I can't remember the term they used for it, but I guess a balloon/blimp looses its connection for whatever reason every few months over there. I worked pretty extensively with with Viper's aerostat around Spin Boldak watching border crossers.

 

[Nebor]

Haha... there are so many that sometimes word of a ROZ doesn't get out like it should. I remember we had to change our orbit once because some object went derelict and floated near our airpsace... I can't remember the term they used for it, but I guess a balloon/blimp looses its connection for whatever reason every few months over there. I worked pretty extensively with with Viper's aerostat around Spin Boldak watching border crossers.

The newer PTDS and PGSS are designed to deflate and fall when their tether is cut. I have some thermal video footage of such an event happening after some Air Force PJs clipped the tether. The blimp fell on some mud huts, and the inhabitants obviously thought it was the end of their world. Worst case scenario is it deflates and falls into a river, then the chase is on.

 

[sm625]

Blimps will never work because they are too easy for da terrists to shoot down.