[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 172 (Tuesday, December 21, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2234]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   REPRESENTATIVE IKE SKELTON NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR 
                            FISCAL YEAR 2011

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. IKE SKELTON

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 17, 2010


  RIGID AEROSHELL VARIABLE BUOYANCY AIR VEHICLE--ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY 
                              DEMONSTRATOR

  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I am aware that the Force Transformation 
Directorate, within the Director, Defense Research and Engineering 
(DDR&E) Office, is developing an advanced, variable buoyancy, rigid-
structure air vehicle with vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) 
capability and the ability to hover, all while operating at maximum 
weight. Known as the Pelican project, this effort has the potential to 
provide for airship technology capable of moving large payloads and 
brigade-sized units to a point of need.
  Pelican could assist in establishing a new inter/intra-theater 
capability that could greatly increase heavy cargo lift capability and 
effectiveness, reduce the logistics footprint in theater, provide low 
cost and ``green'' cargo carriage, and could establish a new disaster 
relief capability.
  The recent Haiti relief operation demonstrates the importance of this 
capability. Aircraft dependent on runways were initially turned away 
because there was insufficient ramp space. A VTOL heavy lift transport, 
requiring little support infrastructure, would have been immune to this 
problem. The new VTOL air-lift capability can reduce our dependence on 
foreign airbases and ports, as well as the effectiveness of anti-access 
strategies employed by our adversaries.
  I encourage the Department to maintain development activities and to 
initiate plans for a capable 60 ton payload vehicle, ensuring close 
coordination and cooperation with the Air Force, Transportation Command 
and Air Mobility Command. I further recommend that this effort be made 
a program of record beginning in Fiscal Year 2013.

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