A Ukrainian "terrorist balloon" was shot down in Russia. How are they used to attack civilians?

Defense Ministry: Ukraine tried to attack Russia with a balloon

The Russian military shot down a Ukrainian balloon over the Kursk region. They wanted to use the device to carry out a terrorist attack on objects in Russia, the Ministry of Defense reported.

The ministry noted that on April 16, at about 8:15 a.m., air defense equipment on duty destroyed a small-sized balloon over the territory of the Kursk region. No other details of the incident are provided.

The AFU balloon that was shot down in March
Source: Telegram Channel Mash

The APU has already used balloons to hit targets

The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) Similar aircraft have already been used during a special military operation. At the end of March, soldiers of the Russian Armed Forces for the first time struck a similar "terrorist balloon", which was disguised as a probe.

It is noted that the improvised bombers are equipped with a GPS tracker, flight control equipment, ballast, an explosive device and batteries. The coordinates of the explosive drop are entered into the navigation controller of the ball. Externally, the device is disguised as a weather balloon to avoid its defeat.

The accuracy of such drones is low for hitting targets on the contact line, so they are used to drop bombs on populated areas.

Russia was accused of launching balloons to deplete Kiev's air defenses

In February 2023, a former representative of the Ukrainian air force, Yuri Ignat, reported that Russia was launching balloons with radar corner reflectors to deplete Kiev's air defense system.

Later, the Kiev City Administration reported that six balloons were found over the city. Officials admitted that the devices also carried intelligence equipment. Photos also appeared, presumably of one of the downed balls with corner reflectors.

Balloons were proposed to be used against UAVs

Balloons with special equipment can be used to protect against drones, said Sergey Bendin, acting head of the Moscow branch of the Russian Geographical Society's Aeronautics Commission.

Manned and unmanned airships can be equipped with electronic warfare equipment that could protect the military from drones. Balloons and airships can also be used for reconnaissance and communication relay. Bendin stressed that for common air defense systems, balloons and airships are "mostly radio-transparent."

In September 2023, a combat balloon was spotted in the Rostov region. Military expert Yuri Knutov admitted that balloons with radar stations should be placed at all borders of the echeloned air defense system.

The United States wanted to upgrade balloons because of Russia

The US Army is thinking about modernizing the fleet of existing balloons, which are used for reconnaissance and communications, for possible counteraction to Russia and China.

Laraina Adams, head of the U.S. Army Ground Sensor Project office, noted that the military wants to find out whether it is possible to expand the scope of balloons in missions that the armed forces will carry out by 2030.

Poland also wanted to get modern balloons. In February, it became known that Warsaw had received approval from the US government for the purchase of elements of a new early detection system based on balloons. Poland plans to use new equipment, including balloons, to detect various drones, helicopters and other low-flying vehicles.