Expert: Eighty airships will be able to protect the western border of the Russian Federation from UAVs.
Photo: MovieMania, Youtube May 20 – IA SM.News. According to analyst Yuri Baranchik, the use of airships and balloons with radars to enhance security on Russia's western border has been actively discussed in recent years. Our potential adversaries have also considered this. The Finnish startup Kelluu is developing airships as airborne sensor stations capable of detecting threats and guiding weaponry, having already received funding from the NATO Innovation Fund. "Airships at an altitude of 2000 meters can detect low-flying drones in 10–15 minutes, allowing time for a response. While ground radars see such threats in just 20–40 seconds, which is insufficient for effective response," explains Baranchik. To create a continuous field of airships along Russia's western border, about 80 units will be needed, costing approximately 210 million euros. This is significantly cheaper compared to the loss of a DRLO aircraft, which costs 300–350 million dollars. "However, there are a number of issues related to the effectiveness of airships in active combat zones, where they can become easy targets for the enemy. Currently, there are no companies in Russia capable of quickly developing and launching such systems into mass production, which complicates the implementation of this concept," Baranchik concluded. The prospects for protecting Russia's border territories from UAVs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine may include the use of modern radar detection systems, such as airships with radars, which will provide earlier threat detection. It is also worth considering the implementation of active and passive protection systems, including electronic suppression and interception systems, which will effectively neutralize enemy drones. Finally, the development of integrated surveillance and management networks that combine data from various sources will help improve response and coordination of forces to protect the borders.
Earlier, IA SM-NEWS reported that air defense forces shot down 780 UAVs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in one day.
More news about the event:
Expert: Eighty airships can protect the western border of the Russian Federation from UAVs
Photo: MovieMania, Youtube May 20 – IA SM.News. According to analyst Yuri Baranchik, the use of airships and balloons with radars to enhance security on Russia's western border has been actively discussed in recent years. 22:52 20.05.2026 Kazan.Sm.News - Kazan
News from neighboring regions on the topic:
Expert: Eighty airships can protect the western border of the Russian Federation from UAVs
Photo: MovieMania, Youtube May 20 – IA SM.News. According to analyst Yuri Baranchik, the use of airships and balloons with radars to enhance security on Russia's western border has been actively discussed in recent years. 01:37 21.05.2026 Ufa.Sm.News - Ufa
Expert: Eighty airships can protect the western border of the Russian Federation from UAVs
Photo: MovieMania, Youtube May 20 – IA SM.News. According to analyst Yuri Baranchik, the use of airships and balloons with radars to enhance security on Russia's western border has been actively discussed in recent years. 20:18 20.05.2026 Ryazan.Sm.News - Ryazan
Expert: Eighty airships can protect the western border of the Russian Federation from UAVs
Photo: MovieMania, Youtube May 20 – IA SM.News. According to analyst Yuri Baranchik, the use of airships and balloons with radars to enhance security on Russia's western border has been actively discussed in recent years. 00:07 21.05.2026 Kemerovo.Sm.News - Kemerovo
Expert: Eighty airships can protect the western border of the Russian Federation from UAVs
Photo: MovieMania, Youtube May 20 – IA SM.News. According to analyst Yuri Baranchik, the use of airships and balloons with radars to enhance security on Russia's western border has been actively discussed in recent years. 21:57 20.05.2026 Ekb.Sm.News - Yekaterinburg
Expert: Eighty airships can protect the western border of the Russian Federation from UAVs
Photo: MovieMania, Youtube May 20 – IA SM.News. According to analyst Yuri Baranchik, the use of airships and balloons with radars to enhance security on Russia's western border has been actively discussed in recent years. 19:51 20.05.2026 Kaluga.Sm.News - Kaluga
Expert: Eighty airships can protect the western border of the Russian Federation from UAVs
Photo: MovieMania, Youtube May 20 – IA SM.News. According to analyst Yuri Baranchik, the use of airships and balloons with radars to enhance security on Russia's western border has been actively discussed in recent years. 19:48 20.05.2026 Izhevsk.Sm.News - Izhevsk
At night, UAVs were shot down over the Tver region
Tver News, May 20. — More than two hundred drones attacked regions of Russia. 09:11 20.05.2026 Afanasiy-birzha - Tver
Sobyanin: Air defense forces destroyed another drone approaching Moscow
Photo: Shutterstock Air defense forces eliminated another UAV of the Armed Forces of Ukraine heading towards the capital. 07:38 19.05.2026 Evening Moscow - Moscow
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Expert: Eighty airships will be able to protect the western border of the Russian Federation from UAVs.
Photo: MovieMania, Youtube May 20 – IA SM.News. According to analyst Yuri Baranchik, the use of airships and balloons with radars to enhance security on Russia's western border has been actively discussed in recent years. 20.05.2026. Kazan.Sm.News. Republic of Tatarstan. Kazan.