As the world’s population grows and industries look to remote areas of the globe for resources, they also face a significant challenge: Two-thirds of the world’s land is not accessible by paved roads . That means high costs for moving equipment and personnel to the far reaches of the map. But Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works, the same division that created the SR-71 Blackbird and the F-117 stealth fighter, has a new solution. Most recently, the special-projects group has developed the LMH1 Hybrid Airship, a vehicle that is equal parts blimp, helicopter, and airplane —capable of transporting massive amounts of equipment and people to almost anywhere on Earth.

The LMH1 Hybrid Airship can lift up to 47,000 pounds of payload and 19 passengers and, with four diesel engines, has a range of 1,400 miles when cruising at 60 knots (about 70 mph). But now, after more than 20 years of research, Lockheed says it has plans to develop a new, larger airship that can carry 500 tons (one million pounds) of cargo over thousands of miles. For comparison, in 2013, a Boeing 777 airplane flew from London to Washington, D.C. (roughly 3,700 miles), with a record-setting weight of 79,740 lbs.

Lockheed Martin’s latest innovation could potentially circle the planet without needing to refuel.

The LMH1, recently approved by the FAA, will cruise at altitudes under 10,000 feet, and its low-impact design allows the floating aircraft to quietly transit over environmentally sensitive areas. Additionally, it has very low fuel consumption and can greatly expand its range by slowing its airspeed. The Hybrid Airship has such incredible range because 80 percent of its lift comes from the helium envelope beneath its outer skin and just 20 percent comes from engine propulsion and aerodynamics. The LMH1 uses an air-cushioning landing system that allows the airship not only to land gently but, when reversed, to grip the ground to enhance stability when unloading equipment.

Lockheed Martin has not announced when the LMH 1, which will cost around $40 million, will be available for use. Neverthless, we know that in the near future packages from Amazonom can potentially reach people deep within the Amazon rainforest.