Eyes in the sky: How low-cost aerostats can help plug India’s radar coverage gaps

India is enhancing its air defence with innovative solutions beyond traditional AWACS.

Drones like the MQ-9B offer persistent surveillance, detecting low-flying threats.

However, aerostat-based radar systems are emerging as a more cost-effective and dedicated option.

These tethered balloons can provide continuous, wide-area coverage, complementing existing assets to create a robust, layered early warning network against modern aerial challenges. ...