Along the lines of my last post about surveillance platforms, this is another interesting development. UAV blimps. They are cheaper to run, and can stay up in the sky a long time. The problem I see, is why wouldn’t the enemy just shoot the thing out of the sky? Nothing like a big slow lumbering white target in the sky to shoot at. I would guess that they are planning on operating these things pretty high up, in order to get out of at least small arms range.
I would also hate to have these things get swooped up in some surprise sand storm like we get all the time in Iraq and Afghanistan. But I do think these would be a good hit for some of the areas we operate in.
The most interesting comment in this article, was about AFRICOM and Blackwater setting up aviation shop there. Prince is right. Africa has terrible roads, and lots of them. As we become more involved with Africa, UAVs watching the flight paths of these passenger aircraft will be vital. And with more aviation work, comes more potential SAR operations. Blackwater and their aviation company Presidential Airways has definitely acquired some interesting aircraft. –Head Jundi
Blackwater expands its fleet of airships
By Michael Hoffman – Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Jul 19, 2008 7:59:19 EDT
Blackwater Worldwide is building up its own Air Force.
Airmen might soon find Blackwater blimps patrolling Iraq and Afghanistan skies in addition to its helicopter and light transport aircraft already flying thousands of missions in theater.
According to Blackwater Worldwide CEO Erik Prince, eight Blackwater CASA 212 light transport aircraft flew 11,000 sorties in Afghanistan last year supporting 38 combat outposts over 19,000 square miles. Its aircraft transported more than 40,000 personnel and 9.5 million pounds of supplies last year.
“We moved about 40,000 passengers, and our total costs, our total invoice for that mission is about what the U.S. Air Force is paying for one new C-27,” he said.
“So the idea of outsourcing versus having government do it, that’s a pretty simple math question for me.”
Prince, who sat down July 7 for a rare, exclusive interview with Military Times editors and reporters, said he isn’t looking to replace the Air Force — simply fill a void where his company is needed.
“I think there’s a gap,” Prince said. “The C-130 is a great aircraft, but the older ones are getting pretty worn out and the C-130Js are coming online, but that’s a very expensive airplane.”
While he doesn’t want to replace it, Prince did equate his company’s aviation arm to a National Guard or reserve unit working under the operational control of joint forces. Blackwater missions are part of the daily Air Tasking Order just like any Air Force mission, he said.
Prince’s aviation dealings don’t even fall under the Blackwater name, instead aligning his fixed wing and helicopter fleet under Presidential Airways, which he bought in 2003. That company earned $28.6 million in fiscal 2007 Defense Department contracts.
As Africa Command stands up this fall, Prince said he foresees the potential for an even greater need there for his company’s aviation services.
“I think there’s less road now than there was 40 years ago in Africa,” he said. “So, being able to fly around is pretty key and being able to fly into rough places.”
Setting up Africa Command has been pretty sensitive, evidenced by the Defense Department’s inability to find an African country willing to host the new headquarters, so connecting Blackwater and its controversial reputation could add to the anxieties.
Both of Prince’s companies have become the focus of lawsuits, investigations and criticism from U.S. and Iraqi lawmakers as well as military leaders and troops on the ground.
Many troops have questioned the tactics of Blackwater’s private security contractors, calling them “cowboys.” The FBI continues to investigate a September 2007 Baghdad shootout involving Blackwater contractors that left 17 Iraqi civilians dead.
Presidential Airways came under fire in November 2004 when one of its Spanish-made CASA 212s carrying three soldiers slammed into an Afghanistan box canyon, killing all aboard, including the contracted pilot, co-pilot and maintainer.
Army Spc. Harley Miller survived the crash but froze to death after authorities didn’t realize the plane went down for six hours, according to a report by the National Transportation Safety Board. The report faulted the pilots.
“The flight crewmembers … chose to fly a nonstandard route through a valley, they used a global positioning system to navigate, and they deliberately flew the airplane at low altitude through the valley for ‘fun,’ ” the report read.
Presidential Airways kept its contract and eight of at least 10 CASAs Presidential Airways aircraft operate out of Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, Prince said.
The eight CASAs and crews average almost four sorties a day flying personnel and supplies to the far reaches of Afghanistan, Blackwater officials said.
Four contractors — a pilot, copilot, loadmaster and crew chief — operate each CASA 212 parked on the side of the ramp without protection from a hangar. And Presidential Airways maintainers work out of five shipping containers.
“Our footprint and our cost to the taxpayer is mighty low,” Prince said.