Russia Tests Balloon Barriers to Snare Ukrainian Drones
Spec-Radio says at least 10 balloons would be needed to shield a single refinery with cables and Kevlar cords, according to Russian television reports.
- On October 2, 2026, Russia began testing a novel defense system against Ukrainian drones using balloons suspended above the ground and linked by cables. The system, displayed on Rossiya 1 television, features Kevlar strands designed to entangle drone propellers.
- Sergei Bendin, head of the Russian Geographical Society's Moscow commission on aeronautics, confirmed the system targets oil refineries. The design draws on Second World War installations called "aprons," adapted to counter Ukraine's intensifying drone campaign.
- Shielding a single large facility requires at least 10 balloons to suspend the cable barriers. These curtains, which feature LED lighting, aim to force drones to change course or fly higher, making them easier for Russian air defense systems to engage.
- The Russian research and production enterprise Spec-Radio, which developed the system, claims the technology is ready for mass production. This follows earlier tenders from chemical companies seeking protection against Ukrainian drone attacks.
- Meanwhile, Ukraine is exploring stratospheric balloons capable of launching missiles from altitudes of up to 18 kilometers. Ukrainian developers are preparing to test the Nika missile, designed to counter jet-powered drones, with trials scheduled soon.
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Russia has begun testing a new defense system against Ukrainian drones: balloons suspended above the ground and linked between them through cables, designed to catch aircraft approaching, Kyiv Post reports.
RUSSIA is testing balloons with cables to take down Ukrainian drones, reviving tactics from World War II to protect key facilities.
Russia testing aerostats to defend against Ukrainian UAVs – media
Russia has begun testing aerostat-based barriers designed to counter Ukrainian drones; the tests were featured on the Rossiya 1 TV channel, and according to the designers, the technology is already ready for mass production, Militarny ezine reports.
Technology is already ready for mass production, but protecting one large object will require the lifting of at least 10 such balloons into the sky.
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