Northrop Grumman gets $517M Army airship contract

Northrop Grumman Corp. said Monday it has won a $517 million contract from the U.S. Army to develop up to three hybrid airships for battlefield surveillance.
The airship, dubbed the Long Endurance Multi-Intelligence Vehicle, or LEMV, is slightly longer than a football field. It is designed to remain airborne for up to three weeks at a time at an altitude of 20,000 feet.
The contract with the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command-Army Forces Strategic Command calls for Northrop to design, develop and test the airship within 18 months and then deliver it to Afghanistan for an assessment by the military.