China prepares to counter kamikaze drones with barrage balloons

Defense Express reports.

Chinese army actively absorbs the experience of war in Ukraine, analyzing the use of weapons and developing means of countering Russian tactics of attacks on infrastructure. In particular, protection of objects in urban areas was demonstrated during "Golden Shield Zhejiang-22" exercise, which took place on November 18.

"Main feature was working out the protection of oil base from kamikaze drone attacks. For this, in addition to masking tanks and strengthening air defense with MANPADS calculations, Chinese military used balloons. Like real balloons. Such means of passive air defense, according to Chinese military, can really strengthen protection of the object. At the same time, in fact, extremely simple and primitive means are used with a low cost, which are significantly cheaper than original barrage balloons World Wars time", Defense Express reports.

Such balloons can be considered disposable.  They do not require significant storage and deployment costs. The mechanism of action of barrage balloons is not in the hope that the enemy's aircraft will crash directly into them, but in the metal cables, which enemy actually pulls vertically upwards.

In addition, installation of, most likely, thermal smoke curtains was actively used to counter kamikaze drones.

"Exercises in China demonstrate that the threat of using kamikaze drones is considered quite serious in the world. And finding effective methods of countering these weapons is one of priority areas", Defense Express concluded.