Poland’s Armament Agency has inquired into purchasing four aerostat-based surveillance systems from the US.
An agency’s spokesperson did not specify the exact system it wants to buy. However, he accompanied his statement on Twitter with an image of the Lockheed Martin Tethered Aerostat Radar System (TARS).
Dziś wysłaliśmy zapytanie ofertowe LOR dotyczące pozyskania rozpoznawczych aerostatów "Barbara" dla Wojska Polskiego. Chcemy maksymalnie zwiększyć nasze możliwości w zakresie radiolokacyjnego rozpoznania przestrzeni powietrznej i nawodnej. pic.twitter.com/iNCreZA6Ve
— Mariusz Błaszczak (@mblaszczak) May 26, 2023
Poland has been looking to acquire an aerostat-based area reconnaissance system since 2017 under the Barbara program, Defence 24 reported, adding that the system can complement Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft Warsaw is in talks to buy from Sweden.
Can Track Low-Flying Missiles
The tethered system can track low-altitude targets such as the Russian Ch-55 air-launched cruise missile. Pieces of the missile were found in a Polish forest in April, according to the Polish defense outlet.
The system can also stay in the air longer than other reconnaissance and surveillance systems.
The TARS has a detection range of 200 miles (322 kilometers) and is optimized to detect low, slow-flying aircraft and maritime and surface targets.
