US general outlines mass balloon use in a possible European conflict

The US Army is considering mass use of high-altitude balloons in a possible European conflict, Brigadier General Steven Carpenter told The War Zone.

Under his scenario, hundreds or thousands of balloons could head east as decoys, communications relays, electronic sensors and strike platforms.

Carpenter said wartime mobilisation by the US, NATO and allies could rapidly increase capacity. But the systems would need to reach Europe before a crisis became a conflict.