The Pentagon plans to use high -air balloon to implement monitoring to track the Sino -Russian hypersonic weapon

According to the US "Political" News Network on the 5th, the Pentagon is preparing a new plan to include a high -altitude balloon with a flying height of 18 to 27 kilometers into its monitoring equipment network, and use them to track the supersonic weapon to use China Russia competes.

US media said that this idea may sound like science fiction, but the budget document of the Pentagon shows that this technology is transferring from the scientific department of the US Department of Defense to the military department.

Tom Karako, a US think tank "Strategy and International Issues Research Center" (CSIS), said: "High -speed or ultra -high -altitude platforms have many advantages in terms of battery life, maneuverability, and flexibility equipped with a variety of effective loads. "

It is reported that the Pentagon will continue to invest in these projects because the U.S. military can use "balloons" for various tasks. According to the relevant budget documents, in the past two years, the Pentagon has spent about 3.8 million US dollars on the balloon project, and plans to invest $ 27.1 million in the 2023 New Fortune year, and continue to carry out multiple tasks.

At the same time, the Pentagon is still studying its own supersonic weapon system, although it failed in the latest test on Wednesday.

The report pointed out that the highlight of this project is that "balloon" may help track and deter Chinese and Russia's height -speed weapons.

Picture source: Screenshot of the US "Political" News Network report

In 2002, in response to the US withdrawal from the "Anti -Ball Missile Treaty", Russia began to accelerate the development of hypersonic weapons. Russia announced in March that a hypersonic missile was launched in Ukraine's military operations, which is the first time that this type of missile has been used in actual combat.

The US media pointed out that a way of balloons may play a role is to enhance the ability of satellite tracking missiles. Tear -shaped balloons can collect complex data and use artificial intelligence algorithm navigation.

The report pointed out that for many years, the Pentagon has been testing the use of high -altitude balloons and solar drones to collect data and provide communication services or alleviate satellites to ground forces. Budget documents show that the Pentagon is quietly transferred to the military department to collect data and transmit information to the aircraft. In 2019, a "Cold Star" project aimed at the location of drug dealers was widely reported. According to the plan, the Pentagon launched 25 monitoring balloons from South Dakota. The Pentagon confirmed to the media that the project had been transferred to the military department to manage. The Ministry of National Defense will not disclose the details of this secret work.

The report mentioned that at the same time, the Pentagon is evaluating how to incorporate high -altitude balloons and commercial satellites into the so -called "kill chain", that is, multi -system coordinated attacks.

"They can be equipped with a variety of platforms. Whether it is communication and data chain nodes, investigations, tracking air and missile threats, or even various weapons, it will not be limited by predictable satellite tracks." Karako said.

The Pentagon is also studying how to use drones and balloons equipped with "valid loads of flat stratums" to track the mobile targets on the ground, provide communication and intercept electronic signals. According to budget documents, related technologies have been transferred to the US Army and the United States Special Combat Command.

(Edit: HX)

- END -