Poland to place balloons with radars on the border

The Ministry of National Defense of Poland has identified potential locations for project Barbara balloons, which are capable of detecting low-flying targets from long distances. Up to four balloons will be installed on the eastern and northeastern borders of the state, informed portal Polon.pl with reference to the Ministry of Defense of Poland.

Balloons, when tethered at a height of several kilometers, can detect targets with a low radar signature, such as helicopters or small aircraft, from a distance of more than 300 km.

A radar installed on the surface of the Earth has a limited ability to detect targets flying at low altitudes. To solve this problem, devices for detecting small targets are installed on high masts. However, this only partially solves the problem. The most optimal are radars installed at a height – on airplanes or helicopters. However, these solutions are quite expensive. In order to reduce costs and at the same time make radar surveillance continuous, it was decided to use balloons – large balloons filled with, for example, helium, which can rise to a height of more than 4000 m. They are kept “tethered” with special cables and guy lines. Under appropriate conditions, these radars can also be used to detect ships and ground targets, and in the future – to detect radioactive contamination.

The first structures should be built within 14 months from the date of signing the contract and reach initial operational readiness by 2025.

On the evening of August 1, the Ministry of National Defense of Poland stated that two Belarusian helicopters violated the country’s airspace during exercises near the village of Belovezha. The Ministry of Defense of Belarus called these accusations unfounded.

August 5 Warsaw accused fighters of PMC “Wagner” in an attempt to penetrate the territory of Poland. Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Pavel Yablonsky also added that Poland is sending more troops to the border and is considering any steps that will be necessary to protect the territory, including the complete closure of the border.

On August 10, it became known that Poland send 10,000 troops to the border with Belarus. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko 11 August declared on the need to maintain relations with the EU countries, instructing the Cabinet to propose a plan for good neighborliness and peace, including Poland.