At least balloons are impossible to steal or sabotage, which might be a benefit for areas where no functional state is present (try Somalia). I can also imagine they are very cost efficient and fast to deploy to areas where connectivity is needed or is rapidly lost, say after an earthquake.
It is hard. Read this story about one similar rogue balloon from a few years back. The RCAF apparently fired over 1000 rounds into the balloon, and it still stayed aloft.
Comments
At least balloons are impossible to steal or sabotage, which might be a benefit for areas where no functional state is present (try Somalia). I can also imagine they are very cost efficient and fast to deploy to areas where connectivity is needed or is rapidly lost, say after an earthquake.
Really? I'm curious how hard it would be to shoot one down.
At 60,000 to 90,000 ft.? Yeah, it's gonna be challenging.
It is hard. Read this story about one similar rogue balloon from a few years back. The RCAF apparently fired over 1000 rounds into the balloon, and it still stayed aloft.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/160598.stm