Former military planner reveals U.S. considered mounting nuclear missiles on blimps in 1980s

What was said

"They looked at putting MX missiles on airships or in other words blimps. He called the Goodyear blimp company and they're like, well, every year we collect hundreds of rounds of rifle rounds because Bubba's sitting on his porch in rural Ohio and just shoots at these things."

Defense Secretary Ash Carter's team in the 1980s explored mounting nuclear-armed intercontinental ballistic missiles on airships as part of ensuring second-strike capability. The absurd plan was abandoned after Goodyear reported civilians regularly shoot at their blimps. The proposal was part of examining alternative transportation modes for the nuclear triad beyond submarines, bombers, and land-based silos.