Would You Need Nearly A Billion Dollars In New, Light Attack Craft...

...If you were already fielding a tactical, and logistics platform that could provide you close, or near close, support for ground attack as well?

A five segment hybrid, dirigible blimp train combination (one engine unit, three cargo units, and one defense unit with emergency backup power) would give you at least a two and a half C130 Gunship equivalent that would have much greater linger times, greater self protection (with the use of large numbers of cheap, automated, flying claymore mines -- kept aloft by tethered, flying recharging stations) as well as supporting a much more sophisticated sensor package.

You can do that, of course, because, as far as each dirigible blimp unit is concerned, all that is carried within the very large, centerline cargo area, of each unit, are standardized container modules, just like on container ships, only these would be made of considerably lighter materials.

Just another benefit to be had if we used the development of hybrid, dirigible blimps, that could be linkable, as a public works, infrastructure project. The one that would also benefit the other public works project we need to undertake: building floating, Yen Tornado Turbines at sea to produce liquid hydrogen.

SENATORS ADD BIG BUCKS FOR A FLEET OF LIGHT ATTACK PLANES TO THE DEFENSE BUDGET