KYIV — Ukrainian forces have adopted a tactic using balloons to extend the operational range of their drones targeting Russian infrastructure. The strategy involves lifting drones to significant altitudes—reportedly up to 18 kilometers—before releasing them to glide toward targets, activating their engines at closer range.
Ukrainian soldiers employed this method in May, using a balloon to transport an American-made Hornet drone approximately 42 kilometers before releasing it at eight kilometers altitude. During the balloon transit, the Hornet consumed only five percent of its battery for electronic functions, leaving it nearly fully charged for its mission.
A ground-launched Hornet drone typically has an operational range of around 150 kilometers. By using a balloon for initial transport, this distance is reportedly doubled.
Balloons have been a component of Ukraine's military operations since the conflict began. Reports in May indicated Ukraine had launched more than 1,000 balloons into Russian territory since the previous autumn. These balloons serve multiple functions: dropping bombs, distracting Russian air defenses and acting as radio relays to pass commands to drones that would otherwise operate beyond communication range.
The development of drone-carrying balloons has been underway for over a year. A photograph in March 2025 showed a drone suspended from an aerostat manufactured by a Ukrainian company.
Russian Telegram channels and officials reported in September that numerous balloons were observed concurrently with deep drone attacks, suggesting a coordinated effort to integrate balloon-assisted drone operations.
These balloon systems currently are designed to carry lighter drones such as the Hornet, which are not fully autonomous. However, if the balloon itself is equipped as a relay, the autonomy of the drone becomes less critical.
Russia has also experimented with military balloons, but prevailing wind patterns in the region reportedly favor Ukrainian operations. Balloons have historical military precedent—first used in Europe shortly after their invention in France in 1783 for observation and later as anti-aircraft devices. China has used similar devices for surveillance of Taiwan, and Israel has deployed them to monitor Lebanon.
