Balloons in T2k

[Homer]

There were already tethered Aerostat air search radars operating in the late 80s, out of Fort Huachuca among other places. The PTDS system used existing technology from the aerostat program plus existing EO and other sensors.

I wonder if something similar might have been devised in T2K for fixed site security and slowly make its way forward as other assets become inoperable?

[chico20854]

Originally Posted by Homer

There were already tethered Aerostat air search radars operating in the late 80s, out of Fort Huachuca among other places. The PTDS system used existing technology from the aerostat program plus existing EO and other sensors.

There were also ship-mounted tethered radar aerostats deployed in the Caribbean in the 80s for anti-drug duties. I figure they could have been used on convoy escort duties to the extent that they could keep up with the convoys (the host vessels were former offshore oilfield support vessels that came into US government possession after defaulting on their federal loans).

A photo is here.

[Raellus]

Apparently, the Soviet Union developed combat balloons during the early years of the Cold War. I was aware of Imperial Japan's largely unsuccessful attempts to attack the USA with free-floating incendiary device-armed balloons during WW2, and assumed that no other country ever tried to repeat the failed experiment but it turns out I was wrong.

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zon...f-spy-balloons

The article includes photos of a helium generating trucks for filling free balloons. Such a vehicle could make for an unusual T2k encounter.

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[kato13]

Originally Posted by Raellus

helium generating trucks-

Hydrogen generating, from the article. Only fission (including spontaneous), fusion or the "Big Bang" can generate helium.

[Raellus]

Originally Posted by kato13

Hydrogen generating, from the article. Only fission (including spontaneous), fusion or the "Big Bang" can generate helium.

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[Homer]

One factoid about JLENS, PTDSS, and other US (and probably foreign) modern tethered aerostats is they are pressurized to the ambient pressure at their operating altitude. This makes them less vulnerable to battle damage (SAF, frag, etc) by minimizing loss of buoyancy. It also means their ground sites are normally collocated with a Field Artillery Met section or USAF Combat Weather.

[bobcat]

i could also see barrage balloons being brought back since they do work against low altitude aircraft/helicopters. especially anti-aircraft munitions start to dry up. it's easier to make a bunch of steel cable and mylar ballons than a surface to air missile.