Balloon games

Skybird · 02-04-23, 07:31 AM

Now its two of them already.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-64521570

Supersoft reaction, though this could be far more dangerous. Intel damage. Spreading of chemcial or biological agents. Even a warhead.

Maybe damage on the ground, if shooting them down? That is as good reason to accept all the above risks, I'm sure.

Weather balloon. Not one, but two. Yeah, sure.

Otto Harkaman · 02-04-23, 08:22 AM

SIGINT sweep

...fitting a SIGINT (SIGnals INTelligence) system on a light balloon offers two advantages. Placed at altitude, electromagnetic sensors are less constrained by the effects of terrain- masking (trees, buildings and the roundness of the Earth). They thus gain in detection capabilities. A balloon also offers a very long endurance at altitude, at a lower cost than a fleet of aircraft or drones.

http://www.dmitryshulgin.com/2019/11...gint-aerostat/

Otto Harkaman · 02-04-23, 08:34 AM

The Pentagon’s next big weapon: Really big balloons
https://fortune.com/2022/07/05/the-p...-big-balloons/
(sorry paywall)

Why These Badass Balloons Are the Pentagon's New Secret Weapon
https://www.popularmechanics.com/mil...s-strattolite/

History of military ballooning
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Histor...g#cite_note-26

Platapus · 02-04-23, 08:40 AM

Well we had our "weather balloons" that were "off course" over the Soviet Union in the 50's, so I guess fair play.

em2nought · 02-04-23, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Otto Harkaman

The Pentagon’s next big weapon: Really big balloons

Unfortunately our military misread that as needing really big "buffoons", and now they're all woke.

Otto Harkaman · 02-04-23, 11:19 AM

^

would be funny if not so worrisome

Catfish · 02-04-23, 12:32 PM

Ahem

02-04-23, 07:31 AM	#1
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,620 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Balloon games Now its two of them already. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-64521570 Supersoft reaction, though this could be far more dangerous. Intel damage. Spreading of chemcial or biological agents. Even a warhead. Maybe damage on the ground, if shooting them down? That is as good reason to accept all the above risks, I'm sure. Weather balloon. Not one, but two. Yeah, sure. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

02-04-23, 08:22 AM	#2
Otto Harkaman Ace of the Deep Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Lexington, Kentucky Posts: 1,174 Downloads: 31 Uploads: 0	SIGINT sweep ...fitting a SIGINT (SIGnals INTelligence) system on a light balloon offers two advantages. Placed at altitude, electromagnetic sensors are less constrained by the effects of terrain- masking (trees, buildings and the roundness of the Earth). They thus gain in detection capabilities. A balloon also offers a very long endurance at altitude, at a lower cost than a fleet of aircraft or drones. http://www.dmitryshulgin.com/2019/11...gint-aerostat/ __________________ "If you want to know the age of the Earth, look upon the sea in a storm." -Joseph Conrad USS Pompano (SS-181) https://www.oneternalpatrol.com/uss-pompano-181.htm

02-04-23, 08:34 AM	#3
Otto Harkaman Ace of the Deep Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Lexington, Kentucky Posts: 1,174 Downloads: 31 Uploads: 0	The Pentagon’s next big weapon: Really big balloons https://fortune.com/2022/07/05/the-p...-big-balloons/ (sorry paywall) Why These Badass Balloons Are the Pentagon's New Secret Weapon https://www.popularmechanics.com/mil...s-strattolite/ History of military ballooning https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Histor...g#cite_note-26 __________________ "If you want to know the age of the Earth, look upon the sea in a storm." -Joseph Conrad USS Pompano (SS-181) https://www.oneternalpatrol.com/uss-pompano-181.htm

02-04-23, 08:40 AM	#4
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,362 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	Well we had our "weather balloons" that were "off course" over the Soviet Union in the 50's, so I guess fair play. __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

02-04-23, 11:19 AM	#6
Otto Harkaman Ace of the Deep Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Lexington, Kentucky Posts: 1,174 Downloads: 31 Uploads: 0	^ would be funny if not so worrisome __________________ "If you want to know the age of the Earth, look upon the sea in a storm." -Joseph Conrad USS Pompano (SS-181) https://www.oneternalpatrol.com/uss-pompano-181.htm

02-04-23, 12:32 PM	#7
Catfish Dipped Squirrel Operative Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: ..where the ocean meets the sky Posts: 17,766 Downloads: 38 Uploads: 0	Ahem __________________ >^..^<*)))>{ All generalizations are wrong.