Blimp Story

 Yesterday, the German Army (Bundeswehr) awarded a 21-million Euro contract to Rheinmetall.  Militaryleaks covered the basic story and is worth a read.

So the package deal?  Rheinmetall has been working on a surveillance 'blimp/balloon'.  

The way it'd work?  

You'd have a decent-sized blimp attached to a tether (cable) and from the station...it'd be released (still hanging onto the station) and rise up.  No one is clear about how far up, but I would take a reasonable guess of 10,000 feet.  Onboard, you'd have various cameras/sensors, and they'd relay a broadcast back down to the station.  There, you'd need at least three people (my guess) to view this on a 24-hour basis.  

With the right type of cameras, you'd probably get a good view of ten kilometers (minimum) in any direction around the station.  

So what the Bundeswehr intends to use it for?  Deployment in Niger, and it'd give them advanced warning of any approaching hostile forces.  

For the cost, and the return factor....I'd say it's a good investment and might prove itself in various ways.  In a high-traffic area like Europe?  It'd never be used because of flight dangers.  But in low-traffic areas like Africa?  Perfect location.