The idea of bringing back into service the barrage balloons used in World War I and World War II has reached russia. An entire system called Barrier was proposed at a specialized conference on drone warfare held in St. Petersburg with the support of JSC Vektor research and development institute, which is part Rostec State Corporation.
Such a proposal was made by russian startup called First Dirigible (positioning itself as an aviation design bureau). Despite the fact that the conference was held on July 1, the developers have been promoting the Barrier system since September 2023.
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The idea is to create a network of balloons located in hangars. These hangars open up and balloons rise into the air when it is necessary and stretch a huge net up to 250 meters high. It should become a barrier to enemy drones.
It is noted that the maximum load per balloon is only 30 kg. This suggests using the lightest possible net.
The idea is a copy of already created solutions with barrier balloons. But there were not nets, but metal cables. Earlier Defense Express wrote about aspects of the use of barrage balloons against cruise missiles, based on usage of such balloons by the UK against V-1 flying bomb.
First Dirigible has already reported that it has successfully tested this system, as well as has allegedly received an order for it. At the same time, russian company has a concept according to which the Barrier system is built not on balloons but on copters that perform a similar task of lifting and tensioning the net.
It should be noted that russia has the issue of protecting oil depots or refineries from drones. Now their owners have to defend these facilities by their own assets. In particular, there have already been unsuccessful attempts to defend the equipment of oil refineries with stretched cables.
Therefore, it is possible to assume that this idea of defense against drones through balloons or drones that will tension nets may become more widespread in russia.
Earlier Defense Express reported that russians had announced new anti-drone development.
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