A specialized stratospheric balloon, registered in the United States and crafted to observe the surrounding airspace, was recently launched over the Florida Strait, close to Cuban airspace.
The Russian news agency TASS broke the story, citing an air traffic control source.
"The stratospheric balloon, intended for continuous monitoring and control, even across national borders, is currently operating at low altitude—around 2.5 kilometers—and is positioned over the Florida Bay, near Key West, USA," stated the source from the agency.
Local air traffic controllers have reportedly informed all airspace users about this device's deployment.
In early January, a similar stratospheric balloon was frequently spotted over Puerto Rico and near Venezuelan airspace.
This device periodically travels over the Atlantic and the Caribbean at altitudes exceeding 18 km, ensuring it does not interfere with passenger air traffic.
Surveillance from Cudjoe Key: The N807XR Balloon
Although TASS did not specify the model, data from FlightRadar24 and open sources link the device to the aerostatic balloon N807XR, recognized as the Tethered Aerostat Radar System (TARS), managed by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
This balloon is stationed above Cudjoe Key, approximately 145 kilometers north of Havana, providing long-range surveillance capabilities.
Commonly referred to as “the eye in the sky,” this system can elevate high-power radars and detect aircraft or vessels at low altitudes up to 322 kilometers away, surpassing the limitations of the Earth's horizon.
While its installation is longstanding, its recent activation aligns with an apparent increase in U.S. military and intelligence presence around Cuba.
A Pattern of Heightened Vigilance
The appearance of the balloon is part of a broader series of operations the United States has conducted in recent weeks, intensifying its aerial and naval patrols around the Island.
As a component of Operation Southern Spear, led by the Southern Command and the Fourth Fleet of the U.S. Navy since 2025, at least three warships have recently been active near Cuban territorial waters.
Additionally, on February 4, an RC-135V/W Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft, a key electronic espionage platform of the U.S. Air Force, flew over Cuba's northern coast from east to west before returning to Florida.
This pattern has been repeated with other aircraft like the MQ-4C Triton (Global Hawk) drone, known for wide-spectrum surveillance, and the P-8A Poseidon, used for maritime patrol, anti-submarine, and anti-surface warfare.
Escalating Political and Military Tensions
This surge in intelligence activity coincides with a hostile shift in U.S. policy towards Havana.
On January 29, former President Donald Trump signed an executive order labeling the Cuban regime a "danger" to U.S. national security and warned of possible tariffs on countries supplying oil to the Island.
The order has been seen as a direct warning to Cuba's allies like Venezuela and Mexico, and as a precursor to potential sanctions escalation amid the U.S. electoral campaign.
In this context, aerial and naval surveillance could be viewed as a strategy to pressure Havana, collect critical intelligence, or even prepare for future coordinated actions.
Russia's alert revives Cold War echoes when the Caribbean was a hotspot for superpower tensions. While the balloon identified by TASS appears to serve technical and routine surveillance purposes, its deployment near the Island—alongside military maneuvers and sanctions—strengthens the perception that Washington is reactivating its pressure apparatus on Cuba.
Russia, having strengthened its ties with the Cuban regime in recent years, perceives these actions as a regional threat. The denunciation of the stratospheric balloon could be seen not only as a gesture of support for Havana but as part of the ongoing global rivalry between Moscow and Washington, now extending into the Caribbean.
Understanding the Presence and Purpose of Surveillance Balloons
What is the primary function of the stratospheric balloon near Cuban airspace?
The stratospheric balloon is designed for continuous monitoring and control of airspace, even across national borders, and operates at low altitudes to provide extended-range surveillance capabilities.
How does the U.S. use the Tethered Aerostat Radar System (TARS) for surveillance?
The TARS, managed by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, is used to elevate high-power radars that can detect aircraft and vessels at low altitudes up to 322 kilometers away, providing long-range surveillance and overcoming the Earth's horizon limitations.