Iran's Revolutionary Guards announced that they destroyed a PSS-T stationary surveillance balloon belonging to the U.S. military in Erbil, northern Iraq, using Shahed-136 unmanned aerial vehicles.
The Revolutionary Guards said the balloon had been deployed near Erbil Airport. The incident took place in the pre-dawn hours of Wednesday during clashes between Iran and the United States last week.
Alongside the statement, footage purportedly showing the moment the balloon was struck was released. The Revolutionary Guards said the PSS-T system differed from conventional balloons because it was anchored at a specific location and used as a surveillance tower.
The balloon's payload and flight capacity
According to Iran's Revolutionary Guards, the balloon, approximately 35 meters long, could carry various payloads weighing up to 500 kilograms. Its deployment altitude was not disclosed, while estimates placed it at around 750 meters.
The statement also said the balloon could monitor the surrounding area around the clock and remain airborne for up to a month under normal conditions.