A US Army general says he had a change of heart about high-flying balloons after seeing them in action

An Urban Sky High-Altitude Balloon system inflates during an international training exercise in the Philippines.

Staff Sgt.

Brandon Rickert/US Army The US Army is expanding its use of high-altitude balloons for surveillance and communications.

The balloons can operate 60,000 to 100,000 feet above Earth, providing space-like capabilities.

Army officials plan more experiments as the service expands its space warfare ranks.

The US Army is looking to expand its use of high-altitude balloons as the service builds out its capabilities near and in outer space.

These balloons operate in the stratosphere, roughly 60,000 to 100,000 feet above Earth, the space in between where conventional aircraft fly and satellites.

Army officials say they see an opportunity to use the balloons to deliver satellite-like surveillance and communication capabilities closer to the battlefield.

Lt.

Gen.

John Rafferty, commander of Army Space and Missile Defense Command, said he was initially skeptical of the technology.

He recalled hearing proposals to use high-altitude balloons while serving in what was then Army Futures Command and questioning whether they'd prove practical.

The general's view, however, changed after he saw the balloons hold their positions and conduct high-altitude surveillance during a training exercise.

"I went from nowhere to a huge believer very quickly once I saw them in action," Rafferty said at this week's Association of the United States Army conference in Washington, DC.