High-Altitude Balloon Systems are advanced platforms designed to operate for extended periods in the stratosphere, primarily for surveillance, reconnaissance, intelligence gathering, and communication missions. Typically functioning at altitudes between 18 and 35 kilometers, these systems offer wide-area coverage, long endurance, and cost-effective operation. Compared to satellites, they provide greater flexibility and faster deployment, while significantly outperforming unmanned aerial vehicles in terms of time on station. Their ability to remain nearly stationary over a designated area makes them especially valuable for persistent monitoring and situational awareness missions.

From a technical perspective, high-altitude balloon systems feature modular payload architectures capable of carrying electro-optical sensors, signals intelligence equipment, radar payloads, and communication relay systems. By exploiting different wind layers in the stratosphere, these platforms can maintain controlled positioning over target regions for days or even weeks. In military applications, they are used for border security, early warning, and electronic intelligence tasks, while civilian uses include disaster management, wide-area internet coverage, and meteorological observation. With low radar visibility, long-duration persistence, and high cost efficiency, high-altitude balloon systems have become a strategically important solution bridging the gap between aerial and space-based capabilities.