"Blue Devil", looking up from the ground, flew to Afghanistan

Recently, in the hangar of the city of Elizabeth City (North Carolina), the shell of one of the largest military airships in the USA was filled with helium, and Blue Devil Block 2 (Blue Devil) gently lifted off the ground and headed for Afghanistan.

The newest optionally manned reconnaissance airship, the Blue Devil Block 2, looks impressive. Compared to him, a large 18-wheeled truck looks just like a kid's toy.

The US military believes that in the very near future the newest 112-meter airship will soar above the Afghan sky. The Blue Devil equipment will include a supercomputer that can process up to 300 a terabyte of incoming information per hour, including a large number of observation and communication systems that can literally “at a glance” cover an area above 90 square. km

The estimated duration of the airship flight is five days with an attainable altitude of 6 and more than km. Video cameras with a large viewing field and modern tracking technologies will make it possible to detect suspicious movements over a large area, thus freeing turboprop and jet aircraft from costly flights. The airship is also equipped with a powerful laser that can highlight the intended targets, marking them for airplanes and exerting a psychological overwhelming influence on the enemy.

A giant shell filled with helium will lift into the air a most complex computer that is equivalent in power to two thousand single-processor servers.

But for now this is all at a preliminary stage. Now a giant airship with envelope volume up to 40 thousand cubic meters. m. is located in the hangar. He is tied to heavy winches. The developers of the Blue Devil are asking the US Congress to provide them with 211 million dollars for the further development of the project. It should be noted that in the United States are developing two projects of huge military airships. In addition to the "Blue Devil" is also being developed "LEMV". Financiers, in turn, are all the more courageous to ask a reasonable question, and whether the financing of just one project will not suffice.

Comments

[rumpeljschtizhen]

quickly, however, in my spring they wrote that it was only being developed, and now it was ready

[kesa1111]

This and knock down nice to miss the assistant needed. Pakistan is close by and indeed, everyone loves amers so .....

[LESHA pancake]

good luck in this Taliban only you can wish.

[Tyumen]

“At a glance” will be able to cover an area of ​​over 90 square meters. km

It’s funny. This is within line of sight. A square a little less than 10 by 10 km.

[spirit]

will certainly fly at high altitudes !! an ideal reconnaissance against Bonan countries, Dushmans will not even track it at such a height, and are not expensive to operate, it is much cheaper than 5 days to drive the Raptors.

[Sergh]

Full crap. I do not understand this pendosnya, then there is no money crying, then this condom in Afghanistan. Yes, they will knock him out of principle. They will ask a Russian, a Ukrainian, give a little greenery, they will come up with something. 5-6 km is not a problem. Yes, I myself would have caught fire from such a decision, even for half the price. Then look at the Pindos snot.

[rumpeljschtizhen]

as far as I understand, the working flight altitude is from 6 km ... and it will fly much higher ...

The height of certain defeat for both the stinger and the needle is around 3500 m, the needle, like up to 5 km, can fly ..
you can’t get from the anti-aircraft guns
the Taliban have no longer-range air defense systems ...
and than then they would fill him up so easily ..... with a howitzer?

[Sergh]

Performance characteristics
SAM type Rb-70Mk0 Rb-70 Mk1 Rb-70Mk2 "Bolide"
Year of adoption 1977 1990 1993 2001 XNUMX
Max. range, m 5000 5000 7000 8000
Min range, m 200 200 200 250
Ceiling, m 3000 3000 4000 5000
Max. speed, m / s 525 550 580 680
The length of the SD, m 1.32 1.32 1.32 1.32
Diameter UR, mm 105 105 105 105
The mass of UR, kg 15 17 17 -
Weight, kg / type warhead 1 (O) - 1,1 (KO) 1,1 (KO)

Well, I think it will go down to 4-5 km!

[fedora]

In the past, I have worked with helium plants for various purposes, therefore, based on my experience, I will say: helium is an extremely fluid gas, even when stored in steel cylinders with reliable shut-off devices, a gas leak was noted, therefore it is guaranteed that gas leaks in this aircraft will be very large , and you know the cost of helium ... So, the operation of the apparatus will cost a pretty penny. Now about survivability it is very high. Helium is not hydrogen and does not burn or explode. In addition, the survivability of this apparatus is ensured by dividing it into numerous compartments and breaking even a few of them you will not achieve the desired result, and small "holes" are tightened with a special sealant. Conclusion: the aircraft is expensive to operate, but it has a high survivability and is extremely effective in reconnaissance and issuance of central control units for weapons.

[Sergh]

And who said that his bullet must be beaten?

[SAVA555.IVANOV]

AND IF A SPECIAL ROCKET WITH ACID EXPLODES ABOUT IT AND GOODLY SPREADS ITS CONTENT?

[kesa1111]

As an option: on the top of the hemisphere interference transmitters powered by solar cells.

[Foamas]

Hooray patriots writing about "such and nice to bring down", it is necessary to remember the results of the operation "Drift" (the fight of the USSR air defense against the USA balloons launched in reconnaissance purposes, up to 1999).
In addition to the detection problems, it was the destruction of the object that was extremely difficult, the cases of multiple fire destruction of objects were repeatedly recorded, and they remained dark in the air and were not destroyed while continuing to carry out their functions.
For example, in September 1998. when intercepting a similar object over Karelia, the Su-27 destroyer (Major V.N. Shestryuk) at an altitude of 8500 m.,5 missiles were fired at the target and 27 cannon shots were fired, but they could not be destroyed.

[Sergh]

Why are you dusting, brothers are the so-called the general noise, not yours, not ours, crushes everything and yourself and you, on a very large spectrum of frequencies. Those. communication zero to everyone, I repeat ALL! Next is the battle on the line of sight with the enemy’s sight. Yes, any radio sucker knows that, and then this is just the beginning ...

[kesa1111]

For a non-patriot
Making a leak for Pakistani intelligence: With the advent of this spotter, drones will fly more often. The airship has no armor and weapons; it is struck by NURSs with highly sensitive fuses or similar shells. Perhaps a missile with arrow-shaped striking.

[Tolia]

Americans know what they are doing at the forefront of world military development and the principles of warfare. The whole world only repeats and assigns their achievements.

[Sergh]

Yes, someone would say, and especially about Belenko, MiG-25. And Poper amer F-15 double-tail. Yes, with the Second World War, they only did that pi @ they drank from everywhere, even our T-34, I’m silent about the Germans (Brown). I do not argue, we also took what was needed, they almost killed us, we wanted to eat, but they are not lamb. Merikos mania pidroSSo. If I see how they are fighting in Afghanistan, Iraq (I do not argue, well), but most importantly, they can’t see a breakthrough. Apparently, they are home-fighting. Waiting for air stripping. And suddenly the moment, it will not be today, tomorrow. Fear. They still saw little torn heads and guts on the fences, I think he’ll forget about his how to manage it, the UAV will forget right away.
Don't go to your mother here, cut the front line "to the point of contact with the enemy," and you won't care about any aviation. Well, etc. etc .... tired.

[Tolia]

I'm talking about modernity, about concepts. And for Russia-usrus! And we left the war for the same fans-patriots on this forum who got lost in reality .... All of Afghanistan, precision weapons lay in warehouses, how the Americans showed how to use them in "Desert Storm" as well as the concept of an air offensive operation, I'm not even talking that this is the only country that used nuclear weapons. The USSR has always made every response, trying to surpass in performance. And so, nuclear submarines, fighters with an integrated aerodynamic scheme, solid-fuel ballistic missiles, air-to-air missiles, all sorts of BIUS, unmanned aerial vehicles, stealth technology, etc. everything was invented there. The USSR made only two breakthroughs for MANPADS and BMPs (and even then the Germans had the HS-30, and they probably ripped off the concept). Yes, Russia has good air defense systems; the United States, they are slightly inferior in characteristics, but the United States has never focused on air defense, since they believe that the best air defense is a strong air force, and even if you read normal analytics, and not military-patriotic journalism on this site, then you would know that according to calculations, even the most saturated air defense lasts a limited time, very limited. Regarding the weak morale, this is ridiculous, this is again your delusions not based on anything. Those who were there and saw the Americans in action say that they have everything in order with this, unlike the Europeans, who really became gentle. Yes, and they have a WORKING training system in the army, in which the soldiers are READY! And the result is a fighter with the skills that are really needed, they prepare for war, and do not talk about political education.

[LESHA pancake]

LITTLE. A NUMBER OF MILITARY OPERATIONS OF PINDOS AND THE CHINESE WASHED AT US

[rumpeljschtizhen]

Sergh
drives as always
the device was not made foolish and for its tasks, the naval man gave reasoned examples .....
Sergh again cited .hern as an example ..... 5 km and not 6 ... and it will obviously fly higher
do not take drugg (I'm talking about amers) dumber than myself

[rumpeljschtizhen]

Tolia
they are right the most powerful army in the world .. but we don’t teach garlopans about patriotism

[LESHA pancake]

Well, then raise your hands and go to surrender to Pindos. RUS HAVE HOW AS ORITZ FRITZA.

[rumpeljschtizhen]

Lech who damn it. What they attacked us ???? stop flogging patriotic nonsense ........

[LESHA pancake]

PRO NOTE patriotic BOSH you say And I see for a small period of time managed to untie Pindos war in Yugoslavia AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ indirectly participating in the war LIBYA I'm not talking about PAKISTAN WHERE theirs drones peremezhku Taliban killed local population.

[rumpeljschtizhen]

.Lech damn it .I agree that the United States is the largest country in the world and can’t do anything without affecting their interests .......... but the argument that their army is strong ........ and the equipment is better. .and they think it is better strategically better ...... and many here think that they are not warriors ... although all the wars in which they participate and win prove the opposite

[LESHA pancake]

ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE THE WARRIORS I DO NOT SEEK TO JUDGE AND THERE IS THOSE THEY DO NOT ATTEMPT TO COMBAT RUSSIA IN A CONVENIENT CASE IN THIS I AM SURE OF 100 PERCENT (REMEMBER 2008)

AND IT IS DONE IMPORTANT WHAT THE BOMB FLIES ON YOUR HEAD WITH LASER GUIDANCE OR TELEO CONTROL OR SIMPLY THE BOMB WILL KILL ANYWHERE.

[rumpeljschtizhen]

..Leha is not dark .. damn it

[LESHA pancake]

I AGREE -LEDS TO THE PARTY.

[Alexei]

The United States is fighting exclusively with weak countries. And it’s absolutely not known how their latest weapons will behave, if they encounter other serious weapons. If you know of cases where the valiant American army won the war with a powerful country (except Japan), share it, and we will listen.
With regards to the airship - everything that flies can be shot down. Maybe not right away - they will try it like this, then still somehow, but they will hit it unambiguously if they ask themselves such a goal.

[T-96]

))) I must say that I consider myself a patriot of Russia))

on the topic: They’re unlikely to be knocked down, since everything has been thought out there for a long time. And the Taliban do not have enough technical means.

On the topic raised in the comments:
How sad this sounds, but we are hopelessly behind science and technology from the NATO countries, and there is no need to argue. Millet take a look at light industry (telephones, cars, etc.) and it will become scary what the so-called pendos have in the military-industrial complex, we just don’t know (there was always something secret).

Compare what secrets are now revealed about which people at one time could not even imagine.

Watch a short film banned from showing in the United States (VKontakte in video search: "The Great American Show")

Everything that was developed in the USSR, after its collapse, was instantly (together with scientists) stolen and transported to the west.

The USA defeated the USSR behind the scenes, and, as befits the winner, it took away "Gold, Arms and Women".

Our youth is drunk and destroys itself both morally and physically, our girls are not worth giving birth to children. We are dependent on the price of hydrocarbons and do not produce anything. What can we talk about?

Now we are building Sochi 2014, and they are x47-b, we are the stadiums for the World Cup2018 and they are bringing HARP to mind.

Either a miracle can help us, or nothing will help.

I believe in a miracle. After all, we are Russians! Rake. We always raked!

[Honory]

For the sake of some kind of Afghanistan, to overwhelm more than 200 million ??? Isn't it a bit greasy even for the Americans?