Blimp Bombing

Wouldn't the blimps be pretty much a tipoff that there is/will be
activity
in the area?  Seems like a pretty big warning sign to me.

Mike Hudak
mihudak@state.pa.us

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> -----Original Message-----
> From: B Lin [mailto:lin@rxkinetix.com]
> Sent: Friday, April 19, 2002 1:08 PM
> To: gzg-l@csua.berkeley.edu
> Subject: RE: Slow planes was: Battle blimps
> 
> 
> At 80,000-100,000 feet you could concieveably stand off from 
> the battle area by 20-30 miles and still have a pretty good 
> view (maybe not in mountainous areas, but still pretty good). 
>  You could then load the blimp up with a couple of dozen 
> laser-guided glide bombs then have ground troops use lasers 
> to target for you.  The advantages would be nearly on-demand 
> bombing - no waiting for a fast mover to be in the area, 
> choice of warhead - the blimp would carry a variety of bombs, 
> not just one or two types, and then you could call in really 
> big strikes from a single blimp.
> 
> That would really change the pace of a battle like that in 
> Afghsnistan - small groups of commandos supported by 2 or 
> three blimps.  Once you have a track on the target, you can 
> deliver a bomb within minutes, rather than having a 
> complicated and expensive set-up where you constantly have an 
> attack-bomber on call.  So highly mobile units - commanders, 
> supply convoys or even massed troop movements can be hit 
> while the reconaissance data is still good.
> 
> You might even be able to have the blimp as a C and C center 
> flying Predator drones to do their own targeting.  Think of 
> how it might change low-intensity warfare if a squad leader 
> suddenly is given the capability to drop a 500 lbs bomb on an 
> enemy position.  Bunkers, MG nests inside buildings, tanks 
> would all be highly vulnerable to ground troops with a radio 
> and a laser designator.
> 
> --Binhan
> 
>