Future Air Force to employ Walrus

By CHairforce.One
CHairforce.com Webmaster

(CFNS) -- The Air Force of the future could include air-ships like the advertising-emblazoned blimps that provide top cover for sports venues across the nation.

Instead of loitering above football stadiums, these high-tech, military heavy-airlift air-ships would transport troops, equipment and cargo -- a job currently handled by big transport aircraft, like the C-5 Galaxy and C-17 Globemaster III.

According to news reports, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has already awarded two contracts for development of the "Walrus," and air-ship capable of transporting troops and cargo into the war zone, or for areas devastated by hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis ... you get the picture.

These airship could carry as much as 500 to 1,000 tons of cargo 6,000 miles in four days.

The airship may be slower than a C-17 Globemaster III or a C-5 Galaxy, but checkout the airship's stats:

  • One airship could delivers as much as two to four C-17s
  • Doesn't require in-flight refueling
  • Operates at significantly lower costs than conventional aircraft or ships
  • Doesn't a landing strip
  • Doesn't need storage hangars or ground support
  • Can reach speeds averaging 100 mph for 6,000 without refueling
  • Can hover at any altitude
  • Can operate from land or water
  • Easy loading and unloading through front, back and side doors

Unlike earlier generation airships the Walrus will generate lift through a combination of aerodynamics, thrust vectoring and gas buoyancy generation and management and for much of the time, it will fly heavier than air.
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