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Title: Giant unmanned airships to patrol Afghanistan skies for up to three weeks at a time
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URL Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencet ... hanistan-skies-weeks-time.html
Published: Jul 13, 2010
Author: Niall Firth
Post Date: 2010-07-13 11:35:02 by christine
Keywords: None
Views: 105
Comments: 4
Giant unmanned airships that can fly for up to three weeks at a time could soon be providing cover for British soldiers in Afghanistan. The LEMV (long endurance multi intelligence vehicle) is being developed by a team of British and American engineers and will give troops on the ground valuable surveillance information. The helium-filled drone will, when it takes to the skies sometime next summer, become the world’s longest endurance UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle). Packed with reconnaissance systems, the LEMV will be able to operate autonomously at altitudes of around 22000 feet for 21 days at a time, and travelling at speeds of up to 80 knots Alan Metzger, director for airship programmes at defence firm Northrop Grumman, which received half a billion dollars from the US military for the project, said that the airship’s ability to stay in the air for long periods make it perfect for surveillance missions. Mr Metzger told The Engineer magazine: ‘This is going to be the longest endurance UAV in the world, it’s got the ability to stay up for three weeks with unblinking stare. ‘There will be no gaps in the data that gets put down to the war-fighter. I don’t know of anything equivalent that could stay up for three or four weeks.’ The firm claims that the LEMV’s skin - a blend of Vectran, Kevlar and Mylar - will be able to cope with a reasonable amount of small arms fire from Taliban fighters on the ground. British engineering firm Hybrid Air Vehicles Ltd is developing much of the key technology behind the aircraft which, officially, is not a true airship. Instead it is known as a hybrid air vehicle (HAV) and it has a number of advantages over fixed-wing UAVS like the Global Hawk. 
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#2. To: christine (#0)
That's great. With this I guess we'll finally be able to win the Afghan war now.
Now that's funny! It's ironic that the Ruskies spent beau coup rubles on HIND Helicopters (Mi-24s) trying to defeat the raggedy assed Afghan tribesmen only to have their substantial investment shot down with American supplied MANPADs. Geez, if only Ivan had sent up a bunch of HAVs and then attacked based on constant, real time pinpoint accurate intel! Of course, this article didn't say a word about these airships turning the tide, did it? I'm sure it was an oversight and they meant to write, "We're sure to win now!" Perhaps they're intended as surveillance to safeguard the poppy crops against the Taliban and errant explosives or missiles that could damage product in the heat of battle. "ART Five ART Five, CEASE FIRE CEASE FIRE! You overshot the enemy and you're destroying our future. How Copy?"
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#4. To: Pinguinite (#2)
That's great. With this I guess we'll finally be able to win the Afghan war now.
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