Remember the story criticizing the government for buying the blimp (or more accurately observation balloon) for the Deep South. Well the observation balloon is about to arrive as per the company's press release:
Aria International Incorporated, the wholly-owned subsidiary of Aria International Holdings, Inc. (OTC BB:ARAH, “Aria”), a company focused on providing specialized surveillance and communications solutions to a global customer base is pleased to announce today that it has completed purchase of an Aeros 40D Airship S/N A40D-21 (the “Airship”) from Worldwide Aeros Corp. (“Aeros”) a California corporation based in Montebello, California. Delivery to Thailand is expected in a few days. Also, Aria has pre-positioned its permanent team in Thailand to smooth inclusion of the Airship into the Surveillance program.
Aria previously announced on May 20, 2009 the agreement to purchase the Airship from Aeros as a deliverable under its contract with Kingdom of Thailand, Royal Thai Army (“RTA”).
Aria International Incorporated is under contract to the RTA to provide in-country surveillance and communications solutions and services. The RTA agreed to purchase certain intelligence and surveillance equipment from Aria for an aggregate purchase price of $9.7 million. Aria will also provide the RTA with certain ancillary services including installation, training and the construction of an airship hangar. The terms of the contract require complete delivery and integration of the surveillance system within 120-days of contract award.
The RTA system is composed of an Airship, imagery capability from high-definition cameras and down linked communication facilities to a mobile command platform that are targeted to meet the requirements for this special procurement. Under this contract, Aria is responsible for delivering a complete turn-key solution, conducting initial operations and continuing maintenance tasks as well as providing training to the RTA personnel on the proper implementation of the equipment being delivered. Aria will also install and integrate high-definition day/night camera systems on select Royal Thai Army helicopters.
BP: We will have to wait and see whether it is any good, but given the relatively low cost (contra those Grippen jets) , how quickly the product has been delivered, and its listed capabilities it seems like a good deal.
We all remember that the Thai Army is a bit technology challenged during the Shin deal, but have they ever heard of sat surveillance. Now with it, you can see a flea on the butt of a beetle and it's not likely to be shot down by a bunch of disgruntled civilians.
Maybe it would be easier to talk to them and solve the problems than shoot at each other and throw good money, that we don't have, after bad.
Not too well up on arms and stuff. But how easy is it to shoot one of these down?
Alec - you decide..55555
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/3831468/Villagers-shoot-down-advertising-balloon-over-country-park.html
Remember how may aircraft were shot down in the Vietnam war with small arms fire?
Actually, I think this type of airship is pretty difficult to shoot down. The gas bag is divided into many cells, so no one bullet would cause a serious leak. The engines are separate from each other, and any one working alone is sufficient to move the thing. I think a lot would depend on what the operational altitude is -- if it's over 5,000 feet, that's nearly a mile, a kilometer and a third, a very difficult shot with anything but a .50 caliber sniper rifle.
It probably is hard to shoot down, but so was a Thud (F105) but the Vietnamese managed to do it on a consistent basis and a F105 travels a lot faster. With expensive toys like this the military is just ratcheting up the ante. Next thing you will hear is the "insurgents" have lazer guided shoulder fired missiles which would do the job. One would think they are on the Black market everywhere and Thailand even has an alleged dealer in Bangkok.
Can you say "Stinger"?
Can you say "SA-7"?
Can you say "MANPADS" (Man-Portable Air Defence Systems)?
Available from a few U$ 100s on up!