Iran buys spy balloons from Russia

The leaked information details the exchange of military technology between Iran and Russia.

Iran buys balloons from Russia that can be used for espionage. This was reported by the independent Russian-language publication Medusa on Friday, March 15.

Meduza writes that hackers from the Prana Network group merged the mail services of the local company Sahara Thunder, which is considered a "spacer" between Russia and Iran, into the network.

The leaked information describes the details of the exchange of military technology between Iran and the Russian Federation. In particular, it is said that Iran is buying spy balloons from Russia, similar to the Chinese ones that were previously shot down over the United States.

The publication's conclusions are based, in particular, on the discovered electronic correspondence between the Iranian company Sahara Thunder and the Russian company Vnestechsnab. The letters discuss the supply of products to Iran by the Dovgoprudnensky Design Bureau of Automation, which specializes in the creation of airships, balloons and special-purpose systems.

It is noted that correspondence in this regard began on November 11, 2020. The management of the Russian Vnestechsnab announced at the time that the procedure for obtaining permits for the supply of an aerostat weather station, a barovalve, an aerostat signal light, a control panel and other components that are the equipment of an unmanned airship or aerostat had begun.

The design bureau informs in the letters that such devices can monitor the situation in water areas, near borders, roads, residential areas, as well as at events in real time.

Subsequently, the Russian side reported that the supply was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic, and in May 2022 the correspondence resumed, but this time it was about equipment repair.

Ready-made balloons and their parts, according to the information obtained by the hackers, were processed by sea, which facilitated transportation, since the ships could turn off the trackers.

The head of Vnestechsnab explained in a comment to the publication that he is allegedly not yet familiar with this Iranian project, but assumes that the balloons can be used for various purposes.