Known as the Airlander 200 the LEMV or Long Endurance Multi-Intelligence Vehicle, has a number of unique capabilities. According to its maker Northrop Grumman, the vehicle has an envelope longer than football field and taller than a seven-story building, filled with 1.3 million cubic feet of Helium.
Northrop Grumman refers to its vehicle as the "worlds largest most persistent lighter than air, surveillance and reconnaissance platform."
The LEMV airship can fly with or without a pilot flown from a standard ground station or operate autonomously. The vehicle is designed to cruise above 20,000 feet for up to three weeks, powered by V8 engines or by a 16kW electrical system and cruise at up to 80 knots per hour.
The jubilation's of the rejoicing camera person in the video following are annoying, but almost at the same discerning level is the more entertaining mild humming of the bird as it seamlessly ascends.
Among its many militaristic uses, its ability to perform humanitarian operations in the light of constraints following disasters could both provide much needed supplies whilst maintaining a rigorous command platform.
"Since the payload module is larger than most other aircraft in operation, it can also be converted into an effective field hospital."
