then the only viable duty is sentry and patrol duty for these baloon or just make them stationary radar platform to watch borders or pirate if we set them to patrol the ocean?
(zeppelin) balon with awacs / ecw / bvr missile is possible ?
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then the only viable duty is sentry and patrol duty for these baloon or just make them stationary radar platform to watch borders or pirate if we set them to patrol the ocean?
TerraN_EmpirE
Tyrant King
A list of uses I can see for a Balloon in military operations
1) Stationary AWACS Radar
2) Stationary Target Attack Radar System ( J Stars for blimps scanning for ground targets it does not attack but sends its information too friendly or controller stations)
3) unmanned mobile Awacs with long loiter time ( set the radar into the structure have it's telemity broadcast too friendly's who then coordinate operations. it can then be piloted along a race track like course for a period of time that would make fixed wing craft unbearable as it moves up and down say a coast line looking for trouble.)
4)unmanned communications relay, Recently Darpa began work on creating a tactical G4 style network for it's operations such a network would demand repeaters the enemy is not always going too allow such a structure too be set up a airship at altitude could be built into a airborne cell tower and relay communications
4A) Signt (a version could be modified too listen in on enemy coms and relay them too intelligence)
5) electronic jamming,( positioned around highly sensitive areas these would in essence bring back the barrage balloon by prevention of attack)
1) Stationary AWACS Radar
2) Stationary Target Attack Radar System ( J Stars for blimps scanning for ground targets it does not attack but sends its information too friendly or controller stations)
3) unmanned mobile Awacs with long loiter time ( set the radar into the structure have it's telemity broadcast too friendly's who then coordinate operations. it can then be piloted along a race track like course for a period of time that would make fixed wing craft unbearable as it moves up and down say a coast line looking for trouble.)
4)unmanned communications relay, Recently Darpa began work on creating a tactical G4 style network for it's operations such a network would demand repeaters the enemy is not always going too allow such a structure too be set up a airship at altitude could be built into a airborne cell tower and relay communications
4A) Signt (a version could be modified too listen in on enemy coms and relay them too intelligence)
5) electronic jamming,( positioned around highly sensitive areas these would in essence bring back the barrage balloon by prevention of attack)
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vesicles
Colonel
A balloon is only useful in conflict against an inferior enemy who cannot shoot down the thing from long distances. Such slow-moving object becomes an instant target for anyone who possesses technology that can shoot it down. If you use it in any way, you are simply providing your enemy the chance to shut down communication/detection/targeting. The only use of such tool is loiter far away in a fight against, let us say, a light infantry who cannot shoot it down. Then it becomes a low-cost way of monitoring the enemy.
TerraN_EmpirE
Tyrant King
not entirely Vesicles
well in friendly territory. Take say Israel or more pointedly Taiwan for example these are countries who need too keep a constant watch for possible trouble on there boarders placement of slow moving long endurance zeplin style surveillance platforms inside there established boarders ( yes I know in the case of Taiwan the mainland would consider it inside there boarder) these would give them the ability too keep a Awacs or Ground watch on station all hours of the day well beyond the problems of conventional fixed wing fuel capacity with out the need for investing in air tanking or landing too change the crew out.
Also fighter shoot downs become more complicated, first balloons are not jets they have little need for keeping there engines burning too keep aloft so a small IR signature would make heat seekers would be dumbfounded when looking for a lock other then perhaps the electronic equipment.
next other then the Gonadal and perhaps some radar parts they would have a very low RCS as most of the structure is nonmetallic meaning the only way too really get a lock on is either with a HARM style missile looking for radar emanations or the old fashion Mk1 eyeball in the later case the pilot would be looking too guns he would likely be emptying the magazine too take down a large multi-cell airship.
well in friendly territory. Take say Israel or more pointedly Taiwan for example these are countries who need too keep a constant watch for possible trouble on there boarders placement of slow moving long endurance zeplin style surveillance platforms inside there established boarders ( yes I know in the case of Taiwan the mainland would consider it inside there boarder) these would give them the ability too keep a Awacs or Ground watch on station all hours of the day well beyond the problems of conventional fixed wing fuel capacity with out the need for investing in air tanking or landing too change the crew out.
Also fighter shoot downs become more complicated, first balloons are not jets they have little need for keeping there engines burning too keep aloft so a small IR signature would make heat seekers would be dumbfounded when looking for a lock other then perhaps the electronic equipment.
next other then the Gonadal and perhaps some radar parts they would have a very low RCS as most of the structure is nonmetallic meaning the only way too really get a lock on is either with a HARM style missile looking for radar emanations or the old fashion Mk1 eyeball in the later case the pilot would be looking too guns he would likely be emptying the magazine too take down a large multi-cell airship.
vesicles
Colonel
Good point!
As you said, instead of targeting the whole balloon, just lock on the equipments on-board, which is what emits all the signal in the 1st place.
Franticfrank
New Member
Wasn't an American company planning to trial a massive cargo carrying zeppelin? I don't remember what happened to that idea but I'm all in favour of zeppelin's returning, I can see alot of uses for them. Interesting link by the way blacklist, good stuff.
Franticfrank
New Member
Thanks for the information Delft, that's the one I was talking about. A pity it didn't work out, but a damn expensive business venture.