BLUF
The US Army will launch over 100 high-altitude balloons in the Indo-Pacific to test swarming, payload diversity, and autonomous control. The exercise aims to validate cost-effective ISR and communications against denied or degraded space assets.Learning Outcomes
- Assess how autonomous swarming and stratospheric platforms can enhance persistent ISR and communication resilience in contested Indo-Pacific environments.
- Analyse lessons from US experimentation to inform ADF concepts for multi-domain operations and rapid capability reconstitution.
- Evaluate the role of emerging low-cost aerial systems in shaping deterrence, operational flexibility, and force projection.
