Russia announced the first launch of the unmanned stratospheric platform «Barrage-1», which is positioned as an alternative to satellite communication systems.
Russia announced the first launch of the unmanned stratospheric platform «Barrage-1», which is positioned as an alternative to satellite communication systems.
This was written by military expert, advisor to the Minister of Defense Sergey «Flash» Beksrestnov, commenting on publications by Russian sources.
According to the Russian side, the device was developed by the Aerodrommash company together with N. E. Bauman Moscow State Technical University. The platform is allegedly capable of lifting up to 100 kg of payload to a height of up to 20 km and uses a pneumatic ballasting system to change the flight altitude and use wind flows.
These are devices that operate at altitudes of 20–40 km — in the lower layers of the stratosphere. Conventional airplanes do not fly at such altitudes, but balloons can drift for long periods of time.
By controlling altitude, you can change the direction of travel due to different wind flows. This does not provide precise maneuvering, but it allows you to keep the device over a certain area or move it in a given direction.
The Russian Federation claims that Barrage-1 could become a cheaper alternative to satellite constellations in low Earth orbit (LEO) and be used for 5G NTN communications. Placing transmitters at an altitude of 20 km theoretically allows covering large areas with mobile communications without building ground infrastructure.
According to Serhiy Flesh, the technology of stratospheric platforms has both civilian and military applications.
In peaceful conditions, it can be an alternative to satellite repeaters; work as a «flying» mobile communications base station, be part of the communications infrastructure in hard-to-reach regions.
At the same time, in the military dimension, such systems can be used for reconnaissance, signal relay, fire correction, or other tasks. Similar concepts, in particular the use of stratospheric balloons for military purposes, were developed during the Cold War.
The key issue, according to the expert, is the availability of means to detect and counter such objects in airspace.
S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems are theoretically capable of hitting targets at altitudes of 20–30 km, however, their effectiveness against low-visibility balloons depends on the specific modification of the system and the conditions of use.
For now, this is an experimental launch. Further development of this direction in the Russian Federation and its real technical capabilities require additional confirmation.
