The term ‘surveillance’ can trigger any number of mental images. From top-secret drones to undercover cops, such a mission is primarily associated with watching someone or something without being seen.
Well, sometimes a successful surveillance strategy can be just as much about deterring activity as catching someone in the act. Such is the case for the latest technique being vetted by the U.S. government.
According to a recent report on Business Insider, the military is testing high-altitude balloons that could track vehicles or the movement of equipment during the day or night from as high as 65,000 feet. This is about twice the cruising altitude of a passenger airliner.
The Sierra Nevada Corporation is reportedly conducting the tests in the skies over South Dakota and Illinois. The advantages of using a balloon is that there is less risk and cost, and the ability to fly that high allows for the vessel to climb above inclement weather.
The balloons’ ability to work at such high altitudes could provide an ideal solution to tracking drug smugglers and other homeland security threats.
The surveillance balloons will most likely be equipped with synthetic-aperture radar devices from Artemis Networks — a tech company that makes wireless radar devices. SAR devices allow for the creation of high-resolution images using radio pulses, which can provide more detailed images and therefore, better intel.
