That’s funny, I could have sworn the article itself stated that it was for military payloads and Afghanistan as well as Africa were mentioned as being destinations.
Am I mistaken?
I was looking at the corporation web site:
The Aeroscraft is designed to offer new capabilities to the warfighter by deploying composite loads of personnel and equipment from fort to fight. The vehicles design would allow supporting a multitude of missions including search and rescue, emergency relief, airborne hospital and many others. It would also offer significant benefits to oil and gas exploration and wind energy industries amongst many others that operate in remote and ecologically sensitive areas by allowing a constant access to operating sites with a minimum environmental impact.
http://www.aeroscraft.com/#/news-and-updates/4565657688
But I see where you are right about it mentioned in the article. They referenced a previous article where that was originally said:
http://articles.latimes.com/2012/sep/01/business/la-fi-0902-cover-nextgen-airship-20120902
There I find they have:
Currently, there are more than 100 aerostats being used in Afghanistan, up from fewer than 10 in 2004.
Resembling small blimps, these aerostats are tethered to the ground and float thousands of feet above military bases and important roadways. They are big enough that gunfire below won’t take them down.
...
Pasternak’s Aeroscraft being built in Tustin is a zeppelin with a rigid skeleton made of aluminum and carbon fiber. A new type of hybrid aircraft that combines airplane and airship technologies, the Aeroscraft doesn’t need a long runway to take off or land because it has piston engines that allow it to move vertically and a new high-tech buoyancy control system.
Pasternak runs a hand through his mop of salt-and-pepper hair and points to the spiny monstrosity, boasting of its versatility.
“This will land in Africa, Afghanistan,” he says, “a Wal-Mart parking lot wherever.”
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So it sounds like they will be used there, just as smaller ones are used there now.