Air Defense of the Future: How 62 Airships Could Close Russia's Borders

The topic of airborne long-range radar surveillance platforms is once again becoming relevant amid the rapid development of unmanned warfare. While the idea of ​​using airships for air defense purposes remains largely a matter of debate in Russia, similar concepts are already moving into practical applications in the West.

Finnish startup Kelluu is developing autonomous high-altitude airships designed for reconnaissance, communications relay, and radar monitoring. According to FlightGlobal, the company views them primarily as airborne sensor platforms capable of detecting targets and transmitting data to weapons. NATO structures have already expressed interest in such systems.



In April 2026, Kelluu received its first €15 million in funding through the NATO Innovation Fund. The company claims its aircraft are designed for long-term flight and operation in challenging climates. The developers estimate that a group of five airships can monitor an area of ​​approximately 30 square kilometers—comparable to the size of Belgium.

The main advantage of such platforms is the altitude at which radar assets can be deployed. The radio horizon of a ground-based radar is limited by the curvature of the surface and the terrain. For low-flying targets, it is often only 30–50 km, even under favorable conditions.

Raising the radar to an altitude of approximately 1 meters increases its surveillance range to 120–150 km, while placing the station at an altitude of 3–5 meters allows for airspace monitoring at a range of over 300 km. This is why high-altitude platforms are particularly attractive given the widespread use of low-flying UAVs and cruise missiles.

Unlike AWACS aircraft, an airship can remain in a designated area for weeks without the need for constant crew rotation or frequent sorties. Compared to drones, it can carry heavier equipment and ensure continuous patrols. Moreover, the cost of such platforms is significantly lower than that of specialized airborne early warning aircraft.

The experience of the conflict in Ukraine has demonstrated how challenging it remains to promptly detect low-flying kamikaze drones. Ground-based radars often detect UAVs flying at altitudes of 50–150 meters less than a minute before impact. According to Kelluu, a radar-equipped airship deployed at an altitude of approximately 2 meters can detect such targets 10–15 minutes before they reach the target. For modern air defense systems, this represents a fundamentally different response time.

Economy The project's cost is also indicative. The developers estimate the cost of one airship at approximately €2 million. Theoretically, creating a continuous radar surveillance line along Russia's western border—from Adler to Murmansk—would require approximately 62 devices.

It is assumed that 31 airships would be on permanent duty at intervals of about 120–150 km from each other, and another 31 would provide rotation and technical Maintenance. Even with the installation of radar equipment, the cost of such a system may be less than the price of an A-50U aircraft.

Of course, airships aren't a universal solution. They remain large and relatively vulnerable targets, are vulnerable to weather conditions, and require extensive infrastructure. Using such platforms directly over the line of contact would be extremely risky. However, at a distance of 100-150 km from the active combat zone, they could potentially become part of a layered early warning and airspace control system.