Thailand to Use Blimp to Survey Muslim Insurgency

[Mid]

Thailand to Use Blimp to Survey Muslim Insurgency
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Wednesday, March 11, 2009

BANGKOK — Thailand's Cabinet approved the purchase Tuesday of a blimp to help survey the country's insurgency-plagued southern provinces.

More than 3,300 people have been killed in the southernmost provinces of Narathiwat, Yala and Pattani since early 2004, when an Islamic separatist insurgency flared.

The provinces are the only ones with Muslim majorities in Buddhist-dominated Thailand, and many Muslims there have long felt they are treated as second-class citizens.

A government spokesman said 260 million baht ($7.2 million) of a total 350 million baht ($9.7 million) would go for the purchase of the unmanned dirigible from the United States.

The remainder would be for surveillance cameras for the aircraft and ground equipment.

Deputy government spokesman Suprak Khunha did not give a timeframe for the purchase of the aircraft.

Because airships such as blimps can remain stationary in the air, they are more suitable than other unmanned aerial vehicles or manned aircraft for operations such as counterinsurgency because of their lower operating costs and ability to be deployed for longer uninterrupted periods of time, according to a study by the US Congressional Research Service.

Since 2005, Thailand has taken part in the US Naval Postgraduate School's testing of lighter-than air platforms as part of a program known as the Coalition Operating Area Surveillance and Targeting System, or COASTS.

The program is meant to use off-the-shelf technology to provide low-cost capabilities for missions such as border surveillance.

irrawaddy.org

[Chairman Mao]

Because airships such as blimps can remain stationary in the air

Until they are shot down.

350 million baht ($9.7 million)

Might be able to recoup 50 baht of that with the scrap metal remains.

[dirtydog]

A government spokesman said 260 million baht ($7.2 million) would go for the purchase of the unmanned dirigible from the United States.

That seems a tad expensive, wonder if in 3 years time there will be an investigation into the purchase.....

[dirtydog]

20 foot long blimp costs $1,400.
Advertising Blimps|Blimps for Sale|Marketing

[mikehunt]

Maybe the "blimp" will be a Thai representation of "The Michellin Man"?

This is yet another idiot idea from a bunch of taxpayer funded idiots.

God/Buddha help Thailand.

[SEA Traveler]

having seen this type of blimp used for a similar type surveillance elsewhere in the world, I suspect that serious consideration will be to have the blimp unmanned, on a tether flying in a rear safe area using sophisticated long viewing electronic surveillance cameras and audio equipment to do the collection.

This is what I suspect it might look like. Considerable larger than 20 feet. Probably Closer to 120 or 150 feet in length.

[dirtydog]

So can you manage to make a 150foot long blimp for 7.2 million US dollars?

[SEA Traveler]

not exactly Khun DD. I can not make one personally but you know as well as I, that there are plenty of companies out there that could. And to think that this is just a blimp without sophisticated specs would be slightly naive. Now I am not privy to the specs of this blimp and am unable to speculate what those specs might stipulate, what if any tech surveillance and support equipment might be included, but I would suspect that for the purposes of use that were reported that thin condom latex over a wire frame is not what they are looking for. No way. I would not be surprised if there were support trailers, a control room, surveillance equipment and things included. Is $9.7 million US too much. Who knows? Should the purchase be scrutinized since public dollars are being used to purchase? Of course. Is anyone getting a kick back? Of course. That is the Asia way…..

[Chairman Mao]

Has anyother nation in the world used a giant blimp to monitor terrorist groups?

If a blimp that is known to track terrorists flies over a populated area, mightn't the people in that area become slightly anxious?

How difficult is it to shoot one down?

[SEA Traveler]

Has anyother nation in the world used a giant blimp to monitor terrorist groups?

If a blimp that is known to track terrorists flies over a populated area, mightn't the people in that area become slightly anxious?

How difficult is it to shoot one down?

I'm sure that different countries have used blimps for varied purposes but at to the specific purpose of tracking terrorists??? who really knows? It would not surprise me.

Your questions related to a people getting anxious about it flying over a particular area or the ease of being shot down is irrelevant if the blimp is used as I have seen for surveillance from a tethered rear location using sensitive surveillance equipment… be it cameras, audio, radar, or other technology.

The rapid technological advances keep many of us in the dark as to what the actual capabilities exist.

[gjbkk]

The army could use a kite, it would be much cheaper and as we all know the top generals are a bunch of kite players

[Spin]

Deputy government spokesman Suprak Khunha did not give a timeframe for the purchase of the aircraft.

Which is good becuase I dont think the government actually has the money to pay for it right now.

[EmperorTud]

[sabang]

Maybe Thailand should borrow or buy a couple of those aerial Drones from the US? They seem to be pretty useful for surveillance, apart from the odd time they bomb a wedding party in Afghanistan of course.

Interesting comparison though- 911, which we never hear the end of, killed around 3000 people in 2001. The insurgency in the South of Thailand has killed more than 3300 people since 2004.

[PhuketPhan]

This program is finally something positive for the surveillance requirements in the south. I for one and pleased to see that the leadership is using brains instead of brawn to make a difference in addressing the situation. They need to catch the insurgents in the act and bring them to justice in a proper manner. This technology is being used in other parts of the world like the southern border of the US and elsewhere. It has also been used successfully in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is merely a part of an overall solution that needs to be supported by every citizen of Thailand so that we can return the South to the peaceful place it once was.

[pompeybloke]

kill the muslim cunts what ever, just kill them...ad enuff. gonna do em.....coming.......brit bloke sik of it. are wwe gonna let these av r country? cmon, fuk em.ik of em. don't give a toss about s. thailnd, was malaysia anyway...fuxck off.

[SEA Traveler]

Maybe Thailand should borrow or buy a couple of those aerial Drones from the US?

Yes they should considerdoing so, for surveillance purposes. I read no mention of using the surveillance blimp for dropping bombs….. however… foh orget it, I don’t want to go there.

[SEA Traveler]

This program is finally something positive for the surveillance requirements in the south. I for one and pleased to see that the leadership is using brains instead of brawn to make a difference in addressing the situation. They need to catch the insurgents in the act and bring them to justice in a proper manner. This technology is being used in other parts of the world like the southern border of the US and elsewhere. It has also been used successfully in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is merely a part of an overall solution that needs to be supported by every citizen of Thailand so that we can return the South to the peaceful place it once was.

a very astute comment for a first timer/newbe/pleb... I agree and commend you for your understanding of the situation and desire for the use of peaceful means to determine and detect potential submissive/terrorist activity.

[withnallstoke]

Go and have a look for oneself. Why take second hand opinion?

[SEA Traveler]

kill the muslim cunts what ever, just kill them...ad enuff. gonna do em.....coming.......brit bloke sik of it. are wwe gonna let these av r country? cmon, fuk em.ik of em. don't give a toss about s. thailnd, was malaysia anyway...fuxck off.

wow Khun pompeybloke, you don't happen to dislike the believers of islam do you? I realize it is difficult to feel compassion for a people of a particular faith, creed, color, etc when there are radicals of that religion or group that are on a mission to kill all who do not have the same belief/culture/background as themselves and this is wrong. They are wrong no doubt about it but a hatred as expressed in your post, it also not the best approach. I’m sure an intelligent person such as yourself can come up with a better way to deal with the situation after all, it would be impossible to kill them all, there are 1.8 Billion muslims in the world. Where is your sense of humanity, compassion, and caring for your fellow man?

Do the surveillance, ID the insurgents, and run a black ops to get rid of the insurgents.

[SEA Traveler]

Thailand to Use Blimp to Survey Muslim Insurgency

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Wednesday, March 11, 2009

BANGKOK — Thailand's Cabinet approved the purchase Tuesday of a blimp to help survey the country's insurgency-plagued southern provinces.

More than 3,300 people have been killed in the southernmost provinces of Narathiwat, Yala and Pattani since early 2004, when an Islamic separatist insurgency flared. The provinces are the only ones with Muslim majorities in Buddhist-dominated Thailand, and many Muslims there have long felt they are treated as second-class citizens.

A government spokesman said 260 million baht ($7.2 million) of a total 350 million baht ($9.7 million) would go for the purchase of the unmanned dirigible from the United States. The remainder would be for surveillance cameras for the aircraft and ground equipment.

Deputy government spokesman Suprak Khunha did not give a timeframe for the purchase of the aircraft.

Because airships such as blimps can remain stationary in the air, they are more suitable than other unmanned aerial vehicles or manned aircraft for operations such as counterinsurgency because of their lower operating costs and ability to be deployed for longer uninterrupted periods of time, according to a study by the US Congressional Research Service.

Since 2005, Thailand has taken part in the US Naval Postgraduate School's testing of lighter-than air platforms as part of a program known as the Coalition Operating Area Surveillance and Targeting System, or COASTS. The program is meant to use off-the-shelf technology to provide low-cost capabilities for missions such as border surveillance.

[Dankhunthot]

The airship purchase is a very good idea and the price is reasonable. $7 million dollars for an airship is about right and of course the purchase will also come with a full crew to take care of it - probably at least 9 people initially. An airship always needs someone to be with ship 24 hours a day and they would need to have experience. On top of that there would be transportation vehicles - spares of just about everything. And the camera I guess would be the same as the American military use - full night vision from high altitude.

As for the airship getting shot down - well at altitude it will make a difficult target and would need something other than mere bullets. Shooting holes into a blimp will not cause it too crash - its filled with helium which is a very slow escaping non flammable gas. For an example a bullet hole (whilst should be spotted by the crew) can go unnoticed for a couple of days before any significant helium loss shows up on the data.

And yes I suppose I should say that my job is looking after airships around the world - but I have no involvement with this contract at this time.

[good2bhappy]

one has to take into account the graft money when determining the price!

[good2bhappy]

the price of imported german cars has rissen of late

[Mid]

the purchase will also come with a full crew to take care of it

.