Ballooning Options To Spy

Source: This post is created based on the article “Ballooning Options To Spy”, published in Times of India on 7^th Feb, 2023.

Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3, Science and technology,

News: The Chinese airship that was shot down over US soil brought to light new spying technologies, some of which India should work on.

Advantages of Spy balloons over spy satellites

Orbits of spy satellites are almost predictable. Satellites may be relocated or moved from orbit, however this requires fuel, which is very low on these satellites and is reserved for critical duties. There are many advantages of spy balloons over spy satellites or aircrafts:

1. They can fly at high altitudes, beyond of range of many air-to-air and surface-to-air missiles.
2. Airships can hover for long durations, making them ideal for watching an enemy’s naval drills.
3. Finally, radar-absorbent material may help airships hide.
4. Airships help India monitor its unstable borders. Airships can identify traffickers and rescue fishing vessels around India’s borders and littorals. Airships may follow ships at sea, notably in peacetime and non-wartime situations.

Other Dual-use surveillance technologies: Uncrewed Underwater Vehicles (UUVs)

Indonesian fisherman caught at least two Chinese Sea Wing UUVs in 2019 and 2020.

In 2019, one such survey ship entered India’s EEZ near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands before being instructed to leave.

China’s dual-use UUVs aren’t alone in maritime surveillance. The PLA navy captured an American UUV near the Philippines in 2016, which was released later.

Four additional Sandhayak-class survey ships will join the Indian navy’s six. Though specifics are unclear, these ships can launch remotely-operated and autonomous UUVs.

What should India do?

India will face new espionage technologies. States and non-state actors may employ low-cost commercial drones as aerial espionage.

India must develop cost-effective ways to shoot down inexpensive drones without using expensive air-to-air missiles, as well as specialised jammers.

China conducted rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO) satellites that approached another orbiting ship. RPOs can repair, refuel, or sabotage other vessels, but they can also absorb communications.

India must work with the private sector and other like-minded nations to improve its space situational awareness to deal with RPOs.