The purpose of this proposal is to explore expendable ship replicas. specifically, air-inflated space frame trusses covered with metalized film will be developed. It will be shown that this technology has significant advantages over conventional balloon technology. Points to be examined are as follows: coated materials, design, fabrication, storage, inflation, deployment, repair/reuse, station keeping, stability, attachment/incorporation of simulated emitters and propulsion potential. Methods of very rapid deployment and implications of an unsophisticated attack as well as war at sea scenarios will also be addressed.
Keywords: ship replica truss decoys air inflated balloons metalized film expendable space frame
