Upstart Virginia aerospace firm Mav6is oblation to instal head missiles on themassive , robotic undercover agent blimpit ’s construction for the Air Force . The estimate would only be somewhat terrifying , if the monumental airship was headed to Afghanistan , as originally planned . But Mav6 and its CEO , a respect retired Air Force general , are also promoting the giant dirigible for homeland security missionary post over U.S. soil . In that way , today ’s war blimp could become tomorrow ’s all - seeing , lethal Big Brother .
Capable of hovering at 20,000 feet for a calendar week at a fourth dimension while carry radar , cameras , radio links and computer processors – the “ most powerful ” of their type in universe – the Blue Devil 2 dirigible can also be fit with “ weapons module , ” grant to marketing material provided by Mav6 . Thebrochure(.ppt ) render a rotary rocket launcher fitted with 100 - pound Hellfire missile , capable of hitting speck targets up to five miles forth . The launcher would presumptively dangle from the tractor - trailer - size gondola car that also houses the sensors , radio set and computers .
As originally configured , Blue Devil 2 would need aid from armed drone or manned jet plane fighter to aggress any targets it incur . With missile installed , the 100 - land mile - per - minute airship would theoretically be able-bodied to spot and kill uncollectible bozo all on its own . What Mav6 calls “ semi - automated detector - to - sensor prompt for raise threat detection ” should minimize human intervention . accountant on the earth would leave the canonical trajectory program , occasionally direct the sensors and give permission to fire .
Originally , the company believed those missions would be carried out abroad . But Mav6 , founded by former Blackwater employee , is anticipatinggrowing demandfrom other government activity organizations . “ There are endless example of non - military , commercial applications programme for airships , ” a party spokesman says . The marketing folder also list “ law enforcement , ” “ herd control , ” “ grapevine monitoring , ” and “ border patrol ” as potential mission .
A slide from the Blue Devil airship brochure . Courtesy of Mav6 .
summate missiles to a previously unarmed support and surveillance craft is not unheard of . Right before 9/11 the CIA and Pentagon instal Hellfires on its Predator undercover agent drones in hope of make out Al - Qaeda operative in Afghanistan . TodayPredators and their larger Reaper cousinsroutinely extend missiles and bomb . The Air Force and Marines have added small precision missile to some of their C-130 transport planes . During World War II Navy airship carried depth charges for sinking German wedge .
Granted , it ’s unconvincing you ’ll wake up someday to discover missile - arm Blue Devils hovering over your family – at least not anytime soon . At present , the Air Force is the only customer for the Blue Devil 2 . And even they are having 2nd idea , despite the fact that former Air Force intelligence activity chief David Deptula is Mav6′s primary executive . Just a year after dropping $ 86 million for the pattern and construction of the 370 - foot - long Blue Devil 2 epitome , the Air Force lose trust in Mav6′s power to handle the undertaking . The fly limb saidit would “ de - scope ” the program , miss the sensor entirely and canceling a plan test deployment to Afghanistan .
But Mav6 is confident the gargantuan dirigible will vacillate back into the military ’s good graces . “ Airships will prove to be an invaluable and effectual tool for all branches of war machine , ” a fellowship spokesperson tells Danger Room . Mav6 has its share of boosters . In February U.S. Senators Thad Cochran and Daniel Ionuye wrote to the Pentagonurging the continued growth of Blue Devil 2 .
But even if the Air Force gives up entirely on the airship , its days may not be over . The migration of military drones into homeland security has hap before . Border Patrol vanish the same Grim Reaper drones as the Air Force , though the Border Patrol ‘ bots are currently unarmed . Even so , the role of military - style drones for U.S. law enforcement hasraised fearamong polite libertarians . envisage the chemical reaction to a potentially armed Blue Devil 2 loom over an American biotic community .
The pathways are clean for giant missile blimps to float off the drawing board into the war - zone and afterward into U.S. airspace . That does n’t mean it will happen shortly , or at all . But it certainly could . And probably should n’t .
double by Mav6
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