To build an extensive and reliable communication and command network, the russian army actively uses aerostats, which are employed for signal relaying and provide greater range and stability of communication.
The well-known specialist in communication, electronic warfare, and radar systems, Sergey "Flash" Beskrestnov, reported that for this purpose, the enemy army uses a variety of aerostats with volumes ranging from 15 to 300 cubic meters. These aerostats are positioned at heights from 500 meters to 3 kilometers and hang at distances of 20-35 kilometers from the front line.
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From the perspective of Defense Express, we note that increased focus on the use of aerostats for communication in the russian federation began as early as the early 2000s. Specifically, in 2007, the Vega Concern received an order from the Ministry of Defense to create an aerostat-based relay system. The development was designated Multiplication, and the product itself was named Product 720 or PAK-RT (likely Prospective Aviation Relay System).
As of 2014, it became known that the project had been stalled, and the Ministry of Defense of the russian federation began to impose fines on the Vega Concern through the courts for project delays. It turned out that the development failed the tests and could only operate for five minutes at the designated altitude.
In 2015, the russian federation actively reported that it had successfully completed tests for the radio communication system based on the tethered aerostat Peresvet, which was developed by the federal enterprise Dolgoprudny Design Bureau of Automation with a volume of 3,000 cubic meters. The aerostat and its launch system were derived from the Vega-04 radio-electronic reconnaissance aerostat project.
We note that in Ukraine, the use of aerostats has also been actively pursued, primarily due to volunteer initiatives. Currently, aerostats are being actively produced in Ukraine, and they are used, among other things, for signal relaying.
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