Thailand To Use Blimp To Survey Muslim Insurgency

[sabaijai]

Thailand to Use Blimp to Survey Muslim Insurgency

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Wednesday, March 11, 2009

BANGKOK — Thailand's Cabinet approved the purchase Tuesday of a blimp to help survey the country's insurgency-plagued southern provinces.

More than 3,300 people have been killed in the southernmost provinces of Narathiwat, Yala and Pattani since early 2004, when an Islamic separatist insurgency flared. The provinces are the only ones with Muslim majorities in Buddhist-dominated Thailand, and many Muslims there have long felt they are treated as second-class citizens.

A government spokesman said 260 million baht ($7.2 million) of a total 350 million baht ($9.7 million) would go for the purchase of the unmanned dirigible from the United States. The remainder would be for surveillance cameras for the aircraft and ground equipment.

Deputy government spokesman Suprak Khunha did not give a timeframe for the purchase of the aircraft.

Because airships such as blimps can remain stationary in the air, they are more suitable than other unmanned aerial vehicles or manned aircraft for operations such as counterinsurgency because of their lower operating costs and ability to be deployed for longer uninterrupted periods of time, according to a study by the US Congressional Research Service.

Since 2005, Thailand has taken part in the US Naval Postgraduate School's testing of lighter-than air platforms as part of a program known as the Coalition Operating Area Surveillance and Targeting System, or COASTS. The program is meant to use off-the-shelf technology to provide low-cost capabilities for missions such as border surveillance.

[TAWP]

How high does it fly?

[animatic]

How to build a 350 million baht arial target practice device...

For border surveillance this is practical to some extent,

but to target insurgent movements just invites some target practice.

Edited March 13, 2009 by animatic

[noahvail]

Why not just get a few of the camera-equipped, hand-held takeoff drone planes from the US military? Very difficult to shoot down, much less expensive than the dirigible, and controlled from a video-game-like station at the base.

[Norrad]

That is one crazy price for an unmanned balloon. And also most blimps have a low operating height. If they go to high the various air currents make it almost impossible to control (that would put it in perfect range of anyone with a rifle).

I'm sure that the Thai government could supply less than a tenth of that price to most technology orientated universities to develop a fleet of Blimps.

[Briggsy]

:D

Ah yes another thing to add to the collection enshrined in 'The Almanac of Thailand's Odd, Under-Utilised and Over-Priced Military Hardware'. It can go between the aircraft carrier and the Swedish fighter jets.

[jumnien]

Yet another Abhisit-era boondoggle!

[teletiger]

It's a "stealth" blimp you idiots. 'And the PTT logo will be incorporated in the blue with white blobby paint-job.

Regards

[sensei]

First, the submarine. Now this.

I wonder what's next?

[Kan Win]

Old story really. We in Kan have this one

Your truly,

Kan Win

[Oberkommando]

350 million Baht. That's a lot of frozen chicken.

[teletiger]

Ahaa...now I see....they're going to cover it in feathers?

Regards.

[Johpa]

How high does it fly?

"You'll never, never, never reach the sky"

That being said, or quoted in this instance, it is a sign of the global recession that the Thai generals are now having to purchase lighter-than-air craft to skim off the contract for personal gain. These are not the times for trips to Sweden nor purchases of aircraft carriers. Even the generals must tighten their belts and look for more affordable projects.

Chaiyo!

[animatic]

Never thought of military pork as having anything to do with ANY government in power.

Elexted governments are only passing annoyances from time to time.

[ballpoint]

Scorn all you like, but I for one am glad that they have finally found a use for Pojamon Shinawatra.

[teletiger]

This topic is just too easy. 12 inches outside the off-stump? right it is 'guv.

Or in the words of a missed TV poster, "And another one slaps into the wicket-keepers gloves".

Regards.

[Journalist]

Thai dirigible in Nana Plaza catastrophe while spotting Muslims in Soi 3

Edited March 13, 2009 by Journalist

[animatic]

ROTFLOL.

This is why we get along. dark, deep, humor to the bone!

[Ricardo]

But I thought it was a TG 737, which was allegedly set on fire, in an early attempt to assassinate the glorious former-PM ?

[Johpa]

Scorn all you like, but I for one am glad that they have finally found a use for Pojamon Shinawatra.

I had thought of someone else, but then thought the better, not wanting to be banned for life.

[Scott]

So, if I were an insurgent, I would look up in the sky and say "Oh, the blimp is over there, so let's go this way."

This really, really isn't rocket science is it?

[Gary A]

Unlike other surveillance platforms, the proposed airship will stay aloft for 10 years and provide a constant watch over an area, air force officials said.

"It is absolutely revolutionary," said Werner Dahm, chief scientist for the air force. "It is a cross between a satellite and a Global Hawk [spy plane]."

The airship will fly at 65,000 feet, or 12 miles, beyond the range of any handheld missile, and safe from most fighter planes. At that height, it would be nearly impossible to see.

[grandpops]

Unlike other surveillance platforms, the proposed airship will stay aloft for 10 years and provide a constant watch over an area, air force officials said.

"It is absolutely revolutionary," said Werner Dahm, chief scientist for the air force. "It is a cross between a satellite and a Global Hawk [spy plane]."

The airship will fly at 65,000 feet, or 12 miles, beyond the range of any handheld missile, and safe from most fighter planes. At that height, it would be nearly impossible to see.

His cousin Givah Dahm was removed by the military for. well giving one.

With this spec. one wonders if then need buy it at all. Think of the emperors new clothes.

Just put a bod in an office to say its somehwere secret over Patani and put the 350 million where it is most needed.... army pockets.

Edited March 14, 2009 by grandpops

[JimsKnight]

Why not just get a few of the camera-equipped, hand-held takeoff drone planes from the US military? Very difficult to shoot down, much less expensive than the dirigible, and controlled from a video-game-like station at the base.

Not so easy, the Yanks like to hold on to the new toys until they become 2nd rate and have developed something superior.

It also takes years to train up a crew to run and maintain them, launching and recovery is a nightmare for those without 'the knowledge'

[IMA_FARANG]

How high does it fly?

I have no idea what the Thais are actually buying, but I do know a little about the U.S. military Tethered Areostat program. What I can tell you is unclassified. You can find it on the internet.

The Tethered Areostat and similar systems use modern technology. They are capable of flying at "above 30,000 feet". They have an onboard computer that automatically maintains the height and a small engine that allows them to stay in one point (relative to the earth) in most winds normal at that altitude. Some have a solar power system to avoid the requirement of carrying a heavy power source. They carry a survielance package that is more than capable of detecting a person from that hieght, and they supposedly can determine the difference between a peasent out in the field with a hoe in his hand and a person carrying a weapon or rifle in the same field. They carry a gas mechanisim that can either expel gas or add gas to the system to keep the "Blimp" (for want of a better word) at a stable level altitude and location. Loiter time (how long it stays in one place) depends on the winds and how much gas it carries for position keeping, but can be "in excess of 3 days". Because the system is mostly non-metallic, the radar signature is very low, and they are hard to detect. No, you can't "shoot them down" with a hand held (so called Stinger) type missle. The U.S. military and the U.S. government (U.S. Coast Guard) are trying to develop the system for long period survielance of coastal shipping lanes. In comparison these systems are cheap (compared to aircraft), and have a much longer "loiter" time.

Now I'm not sure this is what the Thais are getting, but the so-called "Blimp" has come on a long way from the 1930's dirigable you see in old movies. So don't make fun of the "Blimp", guys.

[sriracha john]

Thanks for that. It seems not many people here have much familiarity with modern warfare equipment.

[Texpat]

Assuming soldiers will be operating the cameras ...

the cameras are equally adept at scanning poolside hotel patrons for items smuggled in their swimwear.

[animatic]

Yes, the new generation is not the 30's stuff or football-cam stuff.

But any laser on a decent scope can paint a heat target on it

and send a missile on it's way. All depends on the seeker head design.

And can you imagine the delight of airline pilots with a super low radar

image thing floating APPROXIMATELY somewhere if the wind doesn't pick up...

No problem $150 more fuel per flight to avoid it where ever it MIGHT be.

[Scott]

I was wondering how much of a danger it poses to aircraft.

[seri thai]

ITT Systems Division of Colorado Springs, CO received a $33.7 million fixed-price, cost-plus award fee with cost reimbursable line items contract for the Tethered Aerostat Radar System (TARS). ITT will operate, maintain, and support 8 operational TARS sites 24 hours a day/ 7 days per week, and also provide cradle-to-grave support for the entire TARS network. At this time $1.5 million has been obligated.

http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/images...Aerostat_lg.jpg

Hmm looks like a blimp to me. OK a cyber-blimp, but a blimp none the less. Looks like you drive it to position and fly it like a R/C kite.

8 units for $33.7 million? so that's 80+ units for Thailand then or a donation to the disabled servicemens benevolent fund? I think I'll be driving to south Thailand in future. Braving the roads may be safer down there after all....