Mar 14 2009
Pentagon to spend $400 million on giant spy blimp
[IMAGE: Raytheon via MSNBC]
On Thursday Pentagon officials announced a plan to spend $400 million to create a giant spy blimp. Floating at 65,000 feet above the Earth, it would be able to linger over any area for a long time, be unnoticed, and nearly untouchable. (I thought this was a joke until I found it on DARPA’s official website. )
Werner J.A. Dahm, chief scientist for the Air Force, called the project, “absolutely revolutionary,” comparing it to a cross between a satellite and a spy plane.
The air ship would be 450 feet long and be airborne for 10 years. Filled with helium, it is to be powered by a system of solar panels recharging hydrogen fuel cells.
While the Pentagon has yet to select a contractor, it has an agreement with DARPA to develop a demonstration air ship by 2014. If (ahem) it is “successful,” it could pave the way for a fleet of spy blimps.
You know, I’m trying to have an intelligent response to this but - really? A $400 million dollar spy blimp? Really?
Sources: Los Angeles Times - Pentagon plans blimp to spy from new heights March 13, 2009
It’s hard to come up with intelligent responses all the time when what they do defies the face of reason and logic so much.