WASHINGTON — The U.S. Army has for years experimented with high-altitude balloons and long-endurance, fixed-wing, solar-powered platforms capable of operating in the stratosphere. Now the service is pursuing prototyping efforts that could lead to programs of record, including one able to deploy launched effects.
Lift off: Use of high-altitude platforms gain traction in US Army
Related:
What The U.S. Army Plans For High-Altitude Balloons, Solar Aircraft
SMDC’s Space and Missile Defense Center of Excellence actively works across the Pentagon to find high-altitude platforms, payloads and command-and-control capabilities for the service. This includes small, tactical balloons for payloads such as extended-range communications up to large, stratospheric balloons, according to a command fact sheet. In April 2022, for example, U.S. Army soldiers launched a Thunderhead High-Altitude Balloon System during exercise Balikatan 22 in the Philippines.*
*Flynn for balloons. Guess there is a different standard for the US gov?
Ms. Cat’s Chronicles 
You must be logged in to post a comment.