自1783年在法国问世以来，气球在军事领域的应用经历了从侦察哨所、防空系留气球到现代监视平台的演进。在俄乌冲突中，乌克兰已成为应用高空气球最活跃的力量。官方报道显示，自去年秋天以来，乌军已向俄罗斯境内施放了超过1000个军用气球，广泛用于投掷炸弹、诱骗俄军防空火力和充当无线电中继站，以向原本超出航程范围的远程无人机转发控制指令。

乌克兰近期对该战术进行了创新升级，将气球改装为运载无人机的空中平台，以极大拓展对俄境内关键基础设施的打击半径。在风向有利的条件下，气球可将无人机提升至高达18公里的高空，使其在启动自带发动机前通过高空滑翔覆盖极长距离。在经过一年多的研发测试后（包括2025年3月曝光的系留吊装测试及9月深部袭击配合），乌军于今年5月利用气球运载美制“大黄蜂”（Hornet）无人机飞行约42公里，并在8000米高空成功实施投放。

在整个气球运载过程中，无人机仅消耗了5%的电量用于维持机载电子系统运行，从而保留了近乎满格的动力用于执行打击任务。地面常规发射的“大黄蜂”无人机打击航程约为150公里，而借助高空气球投放可将有效航程直接提升一倍至约300公里。尽管当前气球平台主要承载非完全自主的中轻型无人机，但通过加装机载通信中继即可克服遥控受限问题；加之常年自西向东的盛行风向偏向乌方，使乌克兰在对俄纵深非对称打击中获得了显著战术优势。

Since their military inception in France following their 1783 invention, balloons have evolved from observation platforms and anti-aircraft aerostats into modern airborne warfare assets. In the Russo-Ukrainian conflict, Ukraine has emerged as the most active operator, deploying over 1,000 balloons into Russian territory since last autumn to deliver bombs, divert air-defense systems, and serve as airborne radio relays guiding drones beyond standard communication ranges.

Recently, Ukraine enhanced this capability by using high-altitude balloons as aerial carrier platforms—or "drone taxis"—to dramatically extend the strike range of unmanned systems targeting Russian infrastructure. Under favourable wind conditions, balloons can ascend up to 18km, allowing carried drones to glide extensive distances at high altitude before igniting their propulsion systems. Building on prototypes observed since March 2025 and large-scale deployments seen in September, Ukrainian forces in May 2026 successfully used a balloon to carry an American-made Hornet drone across 42km before releasing it at an altitude of 8km.

During transit, the carried drone consumed merely 5% of its battery capacity on internal electronics, reserving full charge for its primary flight mission. While a ground-launched Hornet has a nominal operational range of around 150km, launching it from a high-altitude balloon doubles its effective reach to approximately 300km. Although current designs accommodate lighter, non-autonomous systems, installing relay hardware eliminates control limitations; furthermore, prevailing westerly winds grant Ukraine a permanent aerodynamic advantage over Russian forces.

Source: Ukrainian military balloons may spoil Russia’s party

Subtitle: Reports suggest some are being used to launch drones

Dateline: Aug 27th 2026