Airships may play key homeland defense role Published March 8, 2004 By Gerry J. Gilmore American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- The dirigible, or airship, may be used as a tool to detect potential attacks against the United States, Department of Defense officials told House of Representative members March 4."We believe the best way to protect Americans is to defeat terrorists as far away from our homeland as we can," said Air National Guard Maj. Gen. John A. Love in his prepared testimony before the subcommittee on terrorism, unconventional threats and capabilities. General Love is a senior officer with U.S. Northern Command, the unified command charged with defending the United States from land, air and sea attack.Paul McHale, assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense, and Lt. Gen. H. Steven Blum, National Guard Bureau chief, also provided testimony.While U.S. troops are taking the fight to terrorists in places like Afghanistan and Iraq, General Love asserted it is also important "to win the 'home game' by protecting, defending and defeating threats against our nation."Recent technology demonstrations point to the potential use of airships to patrol a 500-mile "buffer zone" established outward from the American coastline, General Love said.High-altitude airships could provide "over-the-horizon" surveillance across North America "and out from our coastal waters for air, ground and maritime threats," he said.Use of airships for homeland defense purposes is consistent with DOD's charter to provide "the military defense of our nation from attacks that originate from abroad," Mr. McHale said. Testing of prototype dirigibles demonstrated they "could provide wide area surveillance and communications capabilities," he said.Mr. McHale pointed out DOD's partner role with the Department of Homeland Security in its mission of protecting the nation against, and preparing for, acts of terrorism. DOD officials stand ready to "provide assets and capabilities in support of civil authorities, consistent with U.S. law," he said.General Blum told House committee members the Guard "is uniquely suited for operational missions inside the (United States) to help protect both the American people and our critical infrastructure."In fact, there are now 32 certified weapons of mass destruction civil-support teams, General Blum said, noting, "More are on the way." General Blum said each team features 22 Army and Air National Guard specialists trained to detect and identify chemical, biological or radiological hazards, and assist in follow-on activities.Another initiative involves the reinforcement of WMD civil-support teams with "existing medical, engineer and security forces from either the Air or Army National Guard," General Blum said.The result, General Blum pointed out, is "a more robust capability in response to a WMD incident."