Islam Times – The Aerospace Force of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) has shot down a US military surveillance balloon over Erbil in Northern Iraq as part of endeavours to dismantle Washington’s spying activities in West Asia, according to a report by Tasnim News Agency on Sunday.The surveillance balloon was “targeted and destroyed” in recent days in line with a broader strategy aimed at eliminating US reconnaissance and early-warning systems across the region, the report said.
Unlike conventional perceptions of balloons in flight, it added, the system remains fixed at a specific point in the sky, operating much like an aerial watchtower.
The balloon was said to be 35 meters long and capable of carrying up to 500 kilograms of various payloads. While no exact figure has been officially disclosed for its operational altitude, some sources put it at around 750 meters.
The system can operate 24 hours a day and remain airborne for one month.
The report noted that the balloon can be equipped with a wide range of other systems, including electronic eavesdropping, communication relay, and electronic warfare.
However, assessments of its deployment over Erbil suggested that its primary function was “aerial reconnaissance and surveillance”.