It’s actually a balloon. It’s a dummy.
The camera pans downwards to reveal that it is being carried along by a medium-sized boat.
TEXT:“1/1 scale Balloon Dummy”
Sailor Star Dust: The documentary-like feel for this episode is a nice touch. The Renewal booklets translated for the Platinum release go somewhat into this.
KnightmareX13: During World War two the allies used inflatable tanks to confuse the Nazi's into thinking that the D-day invasion would take place somewhere else in France rather than the beaches of Normandy. And more recently the Russian military has begun to invest in full scale inflatable missile launchers, tanks, transports, and fighter jets. With the idea of confusing satellites and making their forces appear larger than they actually are. And these inflatables are rather life like to. Also note the boat pulling the decoy.
Dr. Nick: Balloon decoys are also a staple of Universal Century Gundam series.
Additional Commentary
Kendrx: They have the money and the material to make livesized EVA balloons?! Heck, who cares. I want to buy an EVA balloon for my little sister, so her sponge bob ballon gets some company.
thewayneiac: They came up with it awfully fast too. Did they have this balloon lying around because they anticipated they'd need it to measure an Angel's firing range, or was it for the Thanksgiving Day parade?
