The U.S. military already uses a fleet of unmanned spy blimps to keep tabs on would-be enemies in Afghanistan and Iraq. Now, the Navy wants to upgrade the airships' sight and hearing, as part of its push for "wide area persistent surveillance."

The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division in Lakehurst New Jersey issued a call for research proposals this week, looking for all sorts of new sensors, sensor-processors, and communication relays to use on its new, snooping aerostats.

According to the Navy, the lighter-than-air-craft should also be able to see all across the spectrum – from ultraviolet to visible light to infrared. The system should incorporate "advanced radar for target detection and tracking; laser radar for target tracking and identification; ESM [electronic support measures] for target location cueing and identification; C4I [Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence] for receiving and disseminating target information and secure transmission of imagery and target track data."

Ideas on other surveillance gear – acoustic sensors, magnetic anomaly detectors, "biometrics technologies," and "non-cooperative ID sensors" – are also welcome. Ditto the "insertion of artificial intelligence (AI) techniques into airborne sensors for situational optimization." And in case blimps ain't your thang, spyboys, the Navy will also be happy to look at proposals involving "unattended ground sensors and compact autonomous vehicles," too. Under this surveillance project, it's all covered.

[Photo: DoD]

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