UK wants to spy on criminals… using balloons

The British Ministry of Defense wants to experiment with launching balloons into the stratosphere to create a global monitoring network, according to reports Futura Science Friday, August 12, 2022. It will be an improved version of UAV surveillance.

After searching for asteroids, hunt criminals. The British Ministry of Defense announced last year its plan to create a communications system to be able to quickly send intelligence and reconnaissance units into the stratosphere. All without the need for a crew, he explains Futura Science. The project called Aether was valued at more than 118 million eurosNice sum to boost the search for fugitives.

An American company has been selected

This is it Sierra Nevada CorporationAnd the An American company had already tested balloons in the atmosphere by the US military three years agoWho will supervise the first phase of the project. Before winning the contract, she will have to submit her creations to the British services.

Those that have already been developed can approach an altitude of 20 kmThey were able to track the vehicles day and night. After the first flights through the atmosphere, the latter could soon be used to obtain classified information.

Spying is reinventing itself

No more agents or netizens sent to hunt down the most dangerous criminals on the planet, technology today is replacing men. With cameras, drones and maybe stratospheric balloons now, the Secret Service can see and hear it all. If we can think of not getting away from the famous dystopia 1984 Written by George Orwell, These balloons will mainly be used to search for fugitives or other traffickersOrdinary citizens are safe now.

British defense tests are expected to begin later this year and should provide “Monitoring period of several months […] Much lower power and cost than traditional surveillance and reconnaissance platformsAccording to the statements of the American company.