The Americans launched the "heavenly eye" in Alaska: a 30 km balloon as part of large-scale exercises in the Arctic

In Alaska, as part of the large—scale ARCTIC EDGE 2025 exercises, something impressive happened: the Northern Command of the US Armed Forces launched a high-altitude balloon to a staggering height of about 30 kilometers. This is not science fiction, but real military technology that is already working on the Arctic. The launch took place from the Elmendorf-Richardson joint base, and technical support was provided by Aerostar, one of the leaders in the production of light balloons (LTA).

Why do we even need a balloon in the stratosphere? But why: at this altitude, it turns out to be higher than all clouds and weather disasters, but at the same time it is much cheaper and lasts longer in the air than a satellite or a reconnaissance aircraft. The balloon is capable of conducting round—the-clock surveillance for a long time, tracking the movement of equipment, ships, planes and even missiles, especially cruise missiles that can arrive from the northern approaches. In the Arctic, where the space is huge and the infrastructure is minimal, such a "heavenly eye" becomes a real breakthrough.

This entire operation is part of ARCTIC EDGE 2025, an annual large—scale exercise that runs from August 1 to August 31 throughout Alaska. The exercises are conducted under the leadership of the US Northern Command and NORAD (the North American Joint Aerospace Defense Command) and are aimed at one thing: to be prepared for any threat at their northern gates.

All branches of the US military participate in the exercises — the army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, special forces — plus allies: Great Britain, Denmark, as well as civilian structures like the FBI and the Coast Guard. These are not just shooting and maneuvers, they are multi—domain operations involving land, air, space, cyberspace, and even information. The goal is to work out coherence, compatibility and quick decision—making in a real crisis.

The Arctic is not just a blank spot on the map. This is a strategically important region, where the race for resources, new sea routes and a military presence is growing. Russia and China are becoming more active, and the United States cannot keep up. The ARCTIC EDGE exercises are not a demonstration of strength, but a test of readiness. They are ready to defend North America, practice command in extreme conditions and implement advanced technologies, such as the same balloons that can operate in harsh climatic and environmental conditions.

Such a balloon is not just a platform for cameras. It is equipped with modern sensors, radars and communication systems capable of transmitting data in real time. And most importantly, it stays in the air for a long time, without requiring constant refueling or maintenance. This is an ideal option for constant observation over thousands of square kilometers of ice, tundra and sea.