Valuable Capture of the IRGC in the Skies of Northern Iraq

Valuable Capture of the IRGC in the Skies of Northern Iraq ▪️ What is the American reconnaissance balloon and what does it do? 🔹 In recent days, the Aerospace Force of the IRGC succeeded in targeting and destroying a U.S. Army reconnaissance balloon over Erbil in northern Iraq, as part of its policy to eliminate American surveillance systems in the region. 🔹 Contrary to the general and outdated perception of flying balloons, these balloons are fixed in one location and act like a guard tower. 🔹 The balloon in question is 35 meters long and has the ability to carry 500 kilograms of various payloads. An exact height for the placement of this balloon has not been officially announced, but some sources mention 750 meters. 🔹 This system is capable of 24-hour surveillance of its surroundings and typically remains in the sky for a duration of one month. 🔹 This balloon can be equipped with a wide range of other systems including electronic eavesdropping systems, communication relays, electronic warfare systems, etc., but the main assessments of this system and its presence in the Erbil area have been focused on aerial surveillance and reconnaissance. 🔹 Eliminating this system in northern Iraq should not be viewed as a small or merely tactical move; rather, it is a piece in the larger puzzle of the IRGC and the Iranian armed forces' strategy to clear the airspace of various identification and early warning systems. 📝 Read the full report from Tasnim here.