The newspaper writes that the British Ministry of Defense is considering purchasing several blimps to monitor “enemy states”. Times.
In 2022, British authorities signed a £100 million ($120 million) agreement with the American company Sierra Nevada Corporation to develop stratospheric unmanned aerial systems. This work is being carried out as part of the British Ministry of Defense’s project called Aether.
Reconnaissance balloons fly at an altitude of 15-24 km.
London has confirmed its interest in purchasing these after test flights over the city of Page (Arizona) last fall.
A 60-day test flight of the device is planned. The possibility of investing in the development of conventional drones that can operate in the stratosphere is also being explored.
Formerly Canadian soldier discovered Chinese reconnaissance buoys in the Arctic. Retired Lieutenant General Michael Day pointed out that Chinese buoys were likely used to monitor the movement of US nuclear submarines in the Arctic, as well as to map the seafloor and ice thickness.
In early February, the US shot down a Chinese balloon off the coast of South Carolina. The administration of US President Joe Biden was confident that the Chinese bubble was “trying to control sensitive military installations” of the US.