Balloons with angular reflectors: what they are and why Russia is launching them into Ukraine
On February 15, 2023, the occupiers launched balloons with angular reflectors into the territory of Ukraine. Also at this time, a Russian reconnaissance drone of an unspecified type was flying over our country.
ICTV Fakty found out what the baloons with angular reflectors are and why Russia is launching them into Ukraine.
Bullets with corner reflectors: what they are
On February 12, 2023, the Air Force Command of Ukraine reported that balloons with reflectors were spotted in the sky of the Dnipro region. This was the second time the Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat spoke about them.
Ihnat said that Ukrainian air defense is monitoring these air targets and keeping the situation under control.
– “These balloons can be called grandfathered methods, because they have been used for a long time. This is a regular balloon that can be of different sizes – from a meter to a meter and a half in diameter. The balloon is filled with gas, and accordingly, it flies upwards. An angular reflector is attached to the balloon on a lanyard. “The signals of our radar station are reflected from the angle reflector, so the balloons become visible,” says Ihnat.
“That is, the angle reflector reflects the radar signal, and our radar station detects the object in the air. Accordingly, the radar reflectors on each bullet serve as a means of increasing visibility.
Ihnat also adds that this airborne target needs to be responded to, especially by our radio engineering troops, who are on 24/7 combat duty.
If we talk about the construction of baloons with angular radar reflectors, they consist of metal plates. These airborne targets can be of different sizes, ranging in diameter from one meter to one and a half, but sufficient to pick up the angle reflector.
Interestingly, these balls have an uncontrolled trajectory, meaning that they can be driven by a normal wind movement.
Photo: Militarny
Military expert Oleksandr Kovalenko also notes that bullets with corner reflectors are actually a very primitive, handicraft work of the Russian occupation forces.
– The main purpose of these balloons is to divert the attention of our air defense. This corner reflector serves as a decoy target, which is very similar to a kamikaze drone or small airplane. That is, the reflector is needed for the radar, which sees the reflector as an airborne object. Therefore, until the balloon is visually seen in the sky, it is perceived as an air target,” Kovalenko says.
Why does the Russian Federation launch balloons with angular reflectors into the territory of Ukraine?
Oleksandr Kovalenko cites several reasons for the launch of balloons with angular reflectors:
- They distract our air defense;
- they help the enemy to find out where our air defense systems are located;
- the enemy is trying to increase the effectiveness of its cruise missile weapons and kamikaze drones.
– Another important point. If these bullets are used in combination with other means of destruction, for example, during a kamikaze drone attack, Ukrainian air defense will be distracted by false targets (bullets with angular reflectors – Ed.). That is, the enemy hopes that air defense will miss the drones, destroying the bullets with reflectors.
Thus, the efficiency of using kamikaze drones will increase, because not all of them will be destroyed,” the expert notes.
Russian balloons and Chinese balloons – a comparison
In early February 2023, a giant Chinese balloon was spotted over the United States.
On February 4, a suspected Chinese spy balloon (aerostat) was shot down over the United States after the US presidential administration had authorized its descent.
China claims that the balloon shot down by the United States was a weather balloon that simply went off course.
A few days later, a similar object was spotted in the sky over Ukraine.
Military expert Oleksandr Kovalenko notes that the only similarity between the Russian balloon and the Chinese balloon is that they are both balloons.
– The Chinese balloon was of much higher quality, was at a higher altitude, and carried out very high quality reconnaissance. It was not a primitive balloon or some kind of balloon with an angular reflector, it was a fully-fledged reconnaissance balloon!
Also, the Chinese balloon and Russian balloons are very different in terms of quality. Although Russian balloons are more primitive and cheap, they are effective! Because they can fulfill their function as a false target,” Kovalenko adds.
Can bullets with corner reflectors carry chemical weapons?
The military expert notes that this is hypothetically possible!
– In general, it can happen, but why? The effectiveness of this will not be high enough! First, it all depends on the altitude and use. Secondly, if it is chemical weapons, then Russia will start to gather evidence of the use of chemical weapons. This could lead to tougher sanctions,” Kovalenko says.
According to Kovalenko, the Russians can also use bullets with corner reflectors as impact bullets.
– That is, the bullets will be equipped with a percussion mechanism for ejecting some kind of ammunition, such as a grenade. Thus, the Russians will use the bullets as a cheap version of the drone,” the expert suggests.
As a reminder, on February 14, Romanian Air Force aerial surveillance spotted a target that looked like a balloon. Local media outlet Hotnews reports that the balloon was spotted at an altitude of about 11,000 meters above the ground. That’s why the Romanian authorities decided to raise several MiG-21 aircraft.
