Sir, - I read your report on (October 31st), that the RAF scrambled two fighter jets in response to some hoax attack on Sellafield. Has no one in the British defence establishment thought of barrage balloons despite the lessons of successful Argentinian attacks on navy targets in the Falklands 20 years ago?
An aerial cheveaux de frise around all nuclear installations could provide a very cheap first and last line of defence against kamikaze terrorists from the air. In gale or tornado weather conditions modern design box kites (used 100 years ago for artillery range finding), could be temporarily substituted. Again, with modern fabric, cellular structure and strong lightweight cables, today's barrage balloons could fly higher and be mobile. - Yours, etc.,
P. MacUalgairg, Plas Thor, Baile ┴tha Cliath 7.