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Army's blimp-like airships get East Coast test (ICBM detection)
stripes.com ^ | December 17, 2014 | DAVID DISHNEAU

Posted on 12/17/2014 7:16:29 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach

U.S. Air Force Col. William Pitts stands in front of an unmanned aerostat that is part of a new U.S. military cruise-missile defense system during a media preview on Dec. 17, 2014, in Middle River, Md.

Patrick Semansky/AP

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MIDDLE RIVER, Md. -- The Army showed off a blimp-like airship Wednesday that is designed to help the military detect and destroy cruise missiles speeding toward the nation's capital or other major East Coast cities.

The radar-toting vehicle will be launched next week as part of a three-year test of the system at Aberdeen Proving Ground, about 25 miles northeast of Baltimore.

When fully deployed next spring, the system will feature two, unmanned, helium-filled aerostats, tethered to concrete pads 4 miles apart. They'll float at an altitude of 10,000 feet, about one-third as high as a commercial airliner's cruising altitude.

One balloon will continuously scan in a circle from upstate New York to North Carolina's Outer Banks, and as far west as central Ohio. The other will carry precision radar to help the military on the ground to pinpoint targets.

(Excerpt) Read more at stripes.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: blimp; miltech
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To: Gasshog
Greetings Gashog:

Every military blimp made was lost or destroyed and many good men died - never was a good idea.

The exception being USS Los Angeles (ZR-3), the only rigid airship attending her own decommissioning ceremony.

One can't help but be fascinated by those magnificent men and their flying machines from Flying Aircraft Carriers - USS Akron (ZRS-4) and USS Macon (ZRS-5).

Cheers,
OLA

41 posted on 12/18/2014 2:30:28 AM PST by OneLoyalAmerican (In God I trust, all others provide citations.)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

Shows the lag. Was a time when that system would have worked against subsonic missiles, but that was a decade ago. Newer sea launched missiles are hypersonic with ranges up to 1000km. These would be on target by the time they were detected. We really do not have a good or even workable defense against this type of missile for our ships, let alone an entire coastline.

Bad idea and waste of money, unless system has another purpose entirely ...


42 posted on 12/18/2014 3:36:12 AM PST by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now it is your turn ...)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Bramhall said the radar can't identify individuals or record cellphone conversations.

"The mission is not to spy on U.S. citizens. It is not designed for that," he said.

If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor.

43 posted on 12/18/2014 5:00:38 AM PST by tx_eggman (Liberalism is only possible in that moment when a man chooses Barabas over Christ.)
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To: wrench

The one at Ft Huachuca, AZ went operational in 1986 and has been so ever since.


44 posted on 12/18/2014 7:30:41 AM PST by SandRat (Duty - Honor - Country! What else needs said?)
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To: PIF

I believe that if we came under an ICBM and Cruse Missle attack that the POS in the White House would dither and never have the ball$ to respond!


45 posted on 12/18/2014 7:38:56 AM PST by Empireoftheatom48 (God help the Republic but will he?)
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To: kingu

We have that very platform stationed at three sites along the US/Mexico border - Ft. Huachuca, AZ; Deming, NM; and Marfa, TX.


46 posted on 12/18/2014 7:46:56 AM PST by HiJinx (I can see Mexico from my back porch...soon, so will you!)
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To: kingu

Thats it. That must be one tough cable to suffer no damage after cutting the wing off an airplane.


47 posted on 12/18/2014 8:50:09 AM PST by wrench
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To: Empireoftheatom48

“the POS in the White House would dither and never have the ball$ to respond!”

Sure he would! He’d rush to the golf links out of the attack zone. Besides, we have plenty of cities and our mil needs to get smaller, the general population as well. Bigger gated estates and more servants for the privileged elite would be the outcome.


48 posted on 12/18/2014 9:42:51 AM PST by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now it is your turn ...)
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To: Empireoftheatom48

“the POS in the White House would dither and never have the ball$ to respond!”

Sure he would! He’d rush to the golf links out of the attack zone. Besides, we have plenty of cities and our mil needs to get smaller, the general population as well. Bigger gated estates and more servants for the privileged elite would be the outcome.


49 posted on 12/18/2014 9:42:51 AM PST by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now it is your turn ...)
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To: Carry_Okie
That's a little too "traditional" for my taste given that the USAF has the task of managing air space for ICBMs and aircraft.

My understanding is that DHS which includes the Cost Guard and Customs and Border Protection aircraft are responsible for air space protection bellow either 50K or 60K I can't remember which.

The USAF is responsible for all fast movers above commercial altitude. They all share the same radar feeds from the FAA and other platforms.

DHS has been using Aerostats along the southern border for decades with mixed results.

50 posted on 12/19/2014 8:33:14 AM PST by usurper (Liberals GET OFF MY LAWN)
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To: OneLoyalAmerican

Thanks for the correction. Very colorful but sad history concerning the military blimps/zeps and the men involved in that service.


51 posted on 12/20/2014 10:38:33 AM PST by Gasshog (DemoKKKrats: Leaders of the Free Stuff World)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

Does it advertise in A-rab?


52 posted on 12/20/2014 10:59:38 AM PST by onedoug
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