The Soviet Union spent 40+ years, and many pilots' lives, trying to devise a means of destroying CIA balloons operating at 30km altitude. SAMs, AAMs, artillery and even ramming all mostly failed.
Eventually by the late 1980s they developed the Myasishchev M-17 balloon interceptor aircraft, with a dorsal cannon-turret and able to loiter for hours at 22km. Still not quite sufficient.
Now increase the balloon altitude to 50km and they should be safe against any opposing force with early-2000s levels of military capability.
Eventually by the late 1980s they developed the Myasishchev M-17 balloon interceptor aircraft, with a dorsal cannon-turret and able to loiter for hours at 22km. Still not quite sufficient.
Now increase the balloon altitude to 50km and they should be safe against any opposing force with early-2000s levels of military capability.