However, the continued use of flexible envelope materials used for airships is self-defeating. The high-tech Kevlar/Tedlar/ laminates are too expensive and available only from two or three suppliers worldwide.

Truly viable military airships must be constructed of rigid, inexpensive, readily available materials. The historic precedent is aluminum; this, paired with carbon fiber can result in far more capable craft.

Continued use of traditional shapes is likewise laden with problems; ground control is extremely difficult when handling an immense lighter-than-air craft; the rounded lower hull and/or single ground contact of the traditional gondola is not enough to provide stability on the ground. The LEMV has a wider ground contact area; a slight improvement over traditional blimp shapes.

Much greater attention needs to be placed on ground control. The hyped “hovercraft” landing systems are insufficient.