Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 51:19-51:47

Why tethered radar lost out to airborne early warning

Raising a radar aerial by kite or balloon was technically explored, but aircraft offered a more useful way to extend a fleet's radar horizon.

Airborne Early WarningAircraft CarriersNaval AviationRadarTethered Balloons
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Question

Did navies try extending radar range with a kite or tethered balloon?

Short answer

Experiments were made, but airborne early-warning aircraft offered the same height with fewer complications.

Notes

Kite- or balloon-supported radar aerials were reportedly tested in the 1950s. Elevation can extend line of sight, so the underlying idea was reasonable. Carrier-based airborne early-warning aircraft then supplied mobility, altitude, and a reusable sensor platform without a tethered system's handling complications. Once that capability existed, the balloon became an unnecessary operational burden.