British troops using 2,000feet ‘barrage balloons’ to spy on Taliban in Afghanistan
September 26th, 2010 - 5:33 pm ICT by ANI
London, Sep 26(ANI): British troops are reportedly using 60 feet-long ‘barrage balloons’ to spy on Taliban fighters in Afghanistan.
Armed with sophisticated cameras, radar and electronic listening devices, the large, unmanned balloons - tethered at over 2,000feet - send live film footage to forward operating bases.
The ‘aerostats’, costing five million pounds each, are also used to eavesdrop on insurgents’ mobile phone and radio calls from several miles away.
Images and audio evidence captured by the balloons are sent electronically through secure systems to a mobile monitoring station operated by a Light Electronic Warfare Team (LEWT).
The information is then processed before being sent in encrypted messages to Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) for analysis.
“The Taliban are starting to realise that these barrage balloons can see and hear everything, so the enemy can run but they cannot hide,” The Daily Mail quoted a senior source, as saying.
“Where these have been used, we have seen a reduction in the threat. An added benefit is that the local community feel safer as we quickly make them aware of the balloon’s capabilities.”
“Thus, the aerostat has a deterrent factor on potential adversaries and develops a sense of security among the population, as it watches the area with an unblinking eye - constantly watching areas of suspected insurgent activity,” the source added.
When asked about the technology, a Ministry of Defense (MoD) spokesman said: “We cannot comment on specific intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance systems, but we are always striving to provide our troops on the front line with the best technology to help them bring security to Afghanistan.” (ANI)
- Brit forces get 'game-changing' technology to fight Taliban in Afghanistan - Feb 26, 2011
- UK troops find 'bomb factory' in Afghan operation - Aug 01, 2010
- Taliban kidnap British soldier in Afghanistan - Jul 04, 2011
- Aerostat radar damaged, non-operational: Antony - Nov 30, 2011
- 'Terrorist safe havens inside Pak territory remain threat to the whole world': Afghanistan - Dec 23, 2010
- NATO soldier dies in Afghanistan - Apr 29, 2012
- Bonn conference stresses on rebuilding Afghanistan - Dec 05, 2011
- Afghanistan: Suicide bomber kills NATO troops, children near market - May 21, 2012
- Britain to introduce legislation to monitor internet use - Apr 02, 2012
- Afghanistan to probe NATO airstrike on Pakistan - Nov 28, 2011
- Pakistan's terror safe havens remain security challenge, says US - May 02, 2012
- Pakistan helping Afghan Taliban, says report (Lead) - Feb 01, 2012
- Special forces winning battle against Taliban insurgents: US, UK commanders - Mar 16, 2011
- US, NATO forces able to halt Taliban gains around Kabul: Petraeus - Mar 09, 2011
- DRDO demonstrates indigenous aerostat system - Dec 28, 2010
Tags: added benefit, aerostat, aerostats, audio evidence, barrage balloons, daily mail, electronic listening devices, electronic warfare, film footage, gchq, government communications, monitoring station, reconnaissance systems, saries, secure systems, sophisticated cameras, taliban fighters, taliban in afghanistan, target acquisition, unblinking eye