Barrage-1 (stratospheric UAV)

2026: Launch

In mid-February 2026, the first launch of the Barrage-1 unmanned stratospheric platform took place in Russia. It can also be used to provide mobile communication services.

According to TASS, referring to information received from the Advanced Research Fund (FPI), the project is being implemented by Aerodrommash from Veliky Novgorod in cooperation with the Moscow State Technical University named after N. E. Bauman. Barrage-1 is a balloon designed mainly with the use of Russian components. In particular, domestic film materials are used for the main carrier shell, which provides a long multi-day (in the future, multi-week) flight in the stratosphere.

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Фото: cdnstatic.rg.ru

The first flight of the unmanned stratospheric platform lighter than air "Barrage-1," developed as part of the project of the Foundation for Advanced Research of the same name, took place, the developers said.

A feature of the presented balloon is a pneumatic ballasting system: it makes it possible to adjust the flight altitude to use wind currents and move in the desired direction. As a result, depending on the tasks performed, Barrage-1 can maneuver and constantly be in a given area or move along the desired trajectory.

The platform is capable of carrying up to 100 kg of payload on board, rising to a height of up to 20 km. In one of the configurations, it is planned to mount promising 5G NTN non-terrestrial communication equipment. Other options for equipment for solving certain problems are also being considered. In the future, it is planned to organize production using the project results by the head contractor of the Aerodrommash project in partnership with the Moscow State Technical University named after N.E. Bauman and FPI.^[1]

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