Pentagon Planning to Build Solar-Powered Spy Airship

Sophisticated blimp will hover at 65,000 feet and will be powered by solar panel technologies and hydrogen fuel cells. Spy capabilities are constant – as it can remain airborne for 10 years.

The U.S. defense department is currently seeking a contractor to build what the Pentagon believe will be the ultimate surveillance tool – a high-flying airship, estimated to cost $400 million.
In a report released by the UK’s Telegraph, the aircraft is expected to be able to remain in flight for 10 years and to sustain an altitude of 65,000 feet – out of range from hand-held weapons and fighter planes. It will be powered by a combination of solar panels and hydrogen fuel cells and will be able to follow targets in a 375 mile range.

The core appeal of the new aircraft is in its uninterrupted surveillance. It can be moved to any number of trouble spots worldwide and feed back real time information. It is the ideal unmanned drone.

Digital Journal