# Army general reverses on high-altitude balloons after seeing them work

> The US Army is expanding its use of stratospheric balloons for surveillance and communications, with a top general crediting a change of heart to watching them perform in training.
- Title: Army general reverses on high-altitude balloons after seeing…
- Summary: The US Army is expanding its use of stratospheric balloons for surveillance and communications, with a top general crediting a change of heart to watching…
- Keywords: us army, high-altitude balloons, stratospheric systems, surveillance, military technology, space operations, business, technology, Army, general, reverses, high-altitude
- Source: Business Insider — https://businessinsider.com/us-army-eyes-bigger-role-for-balloons-in-warfare-2026-10
- Author: Kelsey Baker
- Published: 2026-10-16T18:18:21.232+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: us army, high-altitude balloons, stratospheric systems, surveillance, military technology, space operations, business, technology
## Army expands balloon surveillance plans
The US Army is building out high-altitude balloon capabilities to operate in the stratosphere, roughly sixty thousand to one hundred thousand feet above Earth, between conventional aircraft and satellites.
## General Rafferty changes his mind
Lieutenant General John Rafferty, commander of Army Space and Missile Defense Command, was initially skeptical of high-altitude balloons while serving in Army Futures Command but reversed his position after witnessing them in action.

> I went from nowhere to a huge believer very quickly once I saw them in action
## Balloons offer advantages over satellites
Colonel Joseph Mroszczyk, director of Transformation Integration Space Superiority, said the Army wants a family of stratospheric systems.
## Multiple missions planned ahead
The Army plans to conduct multiple experiments involving various stratospheric systems over the coming year, building on tests conducted in Europe and the Pacific.
## Key takeaway

The US Army is expanding high-altitude balloon use for surveillance and communications after a senior general reversed his skepticism following a training exercise demonstration.