Seeking better rapid deployment capabilities, the Pentagon is looking into a Lockheed Martin (Skunk Works) project known as Aerocraft. This is a huge aerial vehicle, half aircraft and half blimp. It is being developed for commercial work; Federal Express and UPS are reportedly interested. The Aerocraft can carry one million pounds of cargo (eight M1A2 tanks or 18 Apache helicopters), and while it flies at only 75 miles per hour and range is limited to 2300 miles, the Army is eyeing the cargo capability and not worried about other factors. --Stephen V Cole