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When was the first military reconnaissance made from a balloon?
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military aircraft
Tupolev Tu-22M, a Russian variable-wing supersonic jet bomber first flown in 1969. It was designed for potential use in war against the NATO countries, where it was known by the designation “Backfire.”
The first military reconnaissance from a balloon took place in June 1794, near the city of Maubeuge, France.1
Following the authorization of a military tethered-balloon organization by the French National Convention in 1793, a company of "Aérostiers" was officially formed on April 2, 1794. This unit utilized balloons to provide aerial observation, contributing to the success of French military operations until the organization was disbanded in 1799.1