Spy/Surveillance Balloon

Spy/Surveillance Balloon

News: Recently, US shot down a Chinese Spy Balloon, that was spotted over US airspace.

What are Surveillance Balloon?
 They are high altitude dual use tools to gather intelligence and carry out other military missions. They are usually equipped with cameras and imaging devices.
 The practice became widespread during World War I and was used extensively during the Cold War when the US launched hundreds of balloons to gather intelligence on the Soviet Union and China. While their use has declined with the rise of unmanned drones and satellites, many countries still employ spy balloons.

Advantages of Spy Balloon:
 They provide wider coverage as they are in close proximity to the earth’s surface.
 They help get closer and clearer images of their targets.
 They are also capable of “gathering electronic signals” and intercepting communications.
 They are cheaper and can be deployed for significant duration without possibility of being tracked (stealth feature)

What are other ways of Surveillance?
 Drone Technology - Drones, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) can be used for surveillance and espionage purposes. They can also be used to provide real-time data on farms and farmers can make informed choices based on data received from Drones. In addition, medical supplies can be carried out in high terrain regions and rescue operations can be carried out during Disaster management.
 Electronic Surveillance can be used in intercepting communication signals, tapping phone calls, and monitoring emails and other forms of digital communication.
 Satellites are sometimes used to gather information about foreign countries.