Not Enough Helium To Keep America's Spy Blimps Over Afghanistan

LEMV: Not Your Father's Blimp Lockheed Martin

Military Struggles To Find Helium For Spy Blimp Surge -- Danger Room

The U.S. military is sending so many spy blimps to Afghanistan that industry is scrambling to supply helium and “cannot keep up with the increased demand” for the containers that hold the gas.

That’s according to documents from the Defense Logistics Agency, the Pentagon office responsible for keeping vital supplies flowing to the warzone.

With their ability to stay in the air for days at a time — and hold more spy gear than any drone — aerostats and airships are quickly becoming surveillance tools of choice in the Afghan War. The military carried out three aerostat surges between last fall and this summer; several dozen are deployed in Afghanistan now. But really, that’s just a scene-setter. Early next year, the U.S. military is planning to send not one, but two “freakishly large” airships to the skies above Afghanistan.

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Update: The Military's Airship Renaissance Deflates Over Lack of Access to Helium -- Popular Science

My Comment: Before spending all of this money, you would think someone would have done their homework to find out if a basic resource like Helium would be available. Hmmmm .... apparently this was not done.