Saturday, September 25, 2010

'Barrage Balloons' Are Becoming Effective 'Spies In The Sky' To Catch Taliban Fighters

Aerostats are being deployed as hugely effective 'spies in the sky' to snare Taliban fighters before they mount attacks on British troops

2,000ft Up, The New 'Barrage Balloon' Spying On The Taliban -- The Daily Mail

They may look like something from the days of the Second World War, but barrage balloons have found a new, high-tech role helping British troops in Afghanistan.

The 60ft-long drones are being deployed as hugely effective ‘spies in the sky’ to snare Taliban fighters before they mount attacks on British troops.

Bristling with sophisticated cameras, radar and electronic listening devices, the large, unmanned balloons – tethered at over 2,000ft – send live film footage of enemy activity day and night to forward operating bases and eavesdrop on insurgents’ mobile phone and radio calls from several miles away.

Read more ....

My Comment: The Daily Mail article does not give any specific details on how much these ballon platforms have reduced Taliban activity .... but I do see the logic on how it could as a deterrent when it is in the sky overhead.

1 comment:

Mark said...

at 2,000 feet? why aren´t they being shot down?