By Anna Maria Jakubek Posted 24.09.2020 at 9:38 am 3 Comments

LEMV: Not Your Father's Blimp:  Lockheed Martin
Next time you're in Afghanistan, make sure to keep an eye out for the U.S. Army's Space and Missile Defense Command's giant blimp-like surveillance airship.

The Long Endurance Multi-Intelligence Vehicle (LEMV), as it's called, will be 250 feet long, autonomous, and able to float at up to 20,000 feet for an impressive three weeks at a time. As for its surveillance capabilities, a 40-foot-long stretch behind the cockpit will house a selection of spy gear, including a motion sensor and radar.

While the LEMV has yet to be built -- the contract itself won't be awarded until October 1 -- you can get a pretty good idea of the colossal scope of this airship via the below video of Lockheed Martin's P-791, which provided the inspiration for the LEMV. As you watch, keep in mind that the P-791 in the video is only 125 feet long, half the length planned for the LEMV!

[Via AviationWeek.com]

3 Comments

link to this comment
Ulyssus
09/24/09 at 11:56 am

Its almost retro of the US to turn to blimp construction considering they have much more sophisticated craft. But I guess for long term aerial surveillance, this would be the answer. You think though that a blimp would be a very large target to hit, so I wonder what kind of defensive mechanisms it would carry?

link to this comment
sloth.inc
09/24/09 at 3:07 pm

Now it may just be me, but a blimp the size of a runway doesn't make for the best spy in terms of avoiding detection, even at 20,000 feet.

link to this comment
sloth.inc
09/24/09 at 3:08 pm

Now it may just be me, but a blimp the size of a runway doesn't make for the best spy in terms of avoiding detection, even at 20,000 feet.