Back to Squawk list
  • 37

Suspected Chinese spy balloon found over northern U.S.

eklendi
 
“The United States government has detected and is tracking a high-altitude surveillance balloon that is over the continental United States right now,” Pentagon spokesperson Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder told NBC News. “We continue to track and monitor it closely.” Secondary story with pictures: https://www.kulr8.com/news/report-suspected-chinese-spy-balloon-spotted-over-billings/article_cb4d11b6-a328-11ed-83cb-fbf1388f61fe.html (www.nbcnews.com) Daha Fazlası...

Sort type: [Top] [Newest]


jwilson2
John Wilson 26
Where is the FlightAware Chinese Spy Balloon track? C’mon people, here’s your chance for glory!
RustyCampos
Rusty Campos 7
I can't find it tail number.

MrTommy
MrTommy 3
I heard Tom Sullivan (talk show host) say he has a number of flight tracking apps and a couple of them DO track this Chinese air space intruder.
ewrcap
David Beattie 22
Apparently it got dis-ORIENTed.
JKMSEM
John Middaugh 5
Or, Mis-Oriented?
jmontani
Joseph Montani 9
Not carrying an ADS-B transmitter system, apparently. Not very friendly of the sender!
Qsadar1160
steve adair 11
Wondering how long a U. S balloon would last over China if the position was reversed. I would think the Chinese would shoot it down then complain to the world of America invasion of Chinese air space.
JKMSEM
John Middaugh 11
Hmmmm, why didn't China alert us to its wayward balloon instead of waiting for us to discover it?
shenghaohan
Shenghao Han 5
Ummm What year is this? Don't Chinese have pretty decent spy sats??
OccamsRazor
Ben Bosley 2
With balloons/aircraft you don't have to rely on orbital mechanics to wait until the satellite is over the area you're interested in taking pictures of. There is likely a satellite datalink stream unless China has a plan to recover it. If it's recoverable they could also use film cameras which offer greater resolution. It could also be a SIGINT platform.
Franky16
Franky16 0
There are Geostatic satellites which can and do maintain orbit directly over one point on Earth chosen by the launch country.
blueashflyer
blueashflyer 20
How long do you think one of OUR balloons would be permitted to hover over China?
Nooge
Nooge 1
We have OURS on Taiwan and South Korea
RECOR10
RECOR10 -7
And we should have shot theirs down LONG time ago. But, they control Hunter who controls "The Big Guy". They all need to be taken out collectively.
4gloriajohns
Gloria Johns 2
What a stupid thing to say. And this is an aviation page anyway.
magyar1956
Laszlo Furdek 1
You will make any excuses for Biden. Just maybe it is your comment that's stupid.
RECOR10
RECOR10 -1
Yeah, and the Commanded by CHINA in Cheif had FAA shut down the southeastern sea-board and the busiest airport in the nation due to his waiting for the China Baloon to be sure to catch as much of the US Mainland as possible. So, you simply have no valid educated point. This SHOULD have been vaporized BEFORE it entered US Air Space. You must have missed the Air Force saying not a week ago that they fully expect the US to be at war with China by 2024...that is YOUR leaders fault. Period.
Corzman69
Charles Smigo 4
Take your political bullshit elsewhere.
wisellort
Michael Wise 6
Two questions I have in case someone can enlighten me: (1) If this is a balloon what keeps it stationary over Montana in spite of the winds aloft? (2) Why would falling debris from a balloon be any more dangerous than most of the other stuff that falls from space?
blackstock
I can think of a few reasons. Any decent military-grade surveillance platform would have components that could destroy the platform. One can clear and purge data. (use overwrite methods to make memory and crypto keys theoretically unrecoverable) Yet this leaves the basic equipment and gathering methodologies in place. (For example, it would be very valuable to know if there are point-to-point tight beam laser transmitters or receivers on board (to the ground or space), because they are harder to detect and intercept.) AFWERX has this communication methodology on its wishlist, so I'm sure China does too.

Or, one can destroy data and equipment in a way to deny the enemy more useful information. That term is thrown around a lot, but in this context, it means to literally destroy the data and the equipment. Incinerate, disintegrate, pulverize to the point where it's imposable to reconstruct the platform. As you might guess, one way to do this is with high explosives. That does not always work. So, some school yard in Montana may wind up with literally a ticking bomb.

We know this platform is there. It's more valuable to try to determine what it is doing when one can take precautions against it than to take it down. Of course, there could be some outside-the-box use for it that has nothing to do with the military around there. Russia once hacked an airport to track one cell phone passing through it. I hope each stakeholder, no matter the functional area, is reviewing all the 'what if we were really the target' wargaming. If nothing else, hopefully it gets the 'good guys' to thinking and adapting to the threats our country faces going forward.
jmontani
Joseph Montani 4
Michael, Good questions! I can help on at least the first one: (1) please see the Tucson (AZ) company which has also developed, and is developing further, balloon methods to allow a balloon to "loiter" over a chosen spot for extended periods, despite winds aloft, for remote-sensing operations, and previously, intended tourism. They have a website, and their name is Worldview (I'd post a URL but sure if URLs are welcome here); (2) I suppose, safety first! If you can avoid dropping something, it will be less litigious if you DO avoid it: "Safety First!"

I wish this thing sported an ADS-B system so we could all keep an eye on it. Maybe their next one will? Live and learn, let's hope? But, no: I heard that this balloon overflight is a violation of US airspace, so I guess that the more clandestine the flight, the better it serves its intended purpose(s), whatever that is/(are). Could just be a runaway scientific balloon?
wisellort
Michael Wise 2
Thanks so much. The "stationary spots" are new to me so I appreciate your information.
RECOR10
RECOR10 1
Sovereignty first, period. That should have been vaporized minutes from being found.
blackstock
Oh, I forgot to note, for (1) see Project Loon. They find pockets of wind to allow station holding and even movement from East to West at times. So, someone besides Google/Alphabet has put this research to use.
slickdog1
Mark Hunley 7
You know this was the one place that I thought I could get great aviation news from. Now it’s Politics come on mannnn
stansdds
Can't shoot it down, someone might get hurt!

And China would get mad. Can't have China mad at us.
slickdog1
Mark Hunley 7
Take it out and let’s see what it is
joeserdynski
Joe Serdynski 8
why shoot it down, we have already hacked into it and the longer it stays, the more we know ! ! !
CandySheeran
Candy Sheeran 0
Might b full of bugs, anthrax or some other biowarefare
RECOR10
RECOR10 -1
Those peskies would have a hard time surviving the heat of a good airburst incendiary weapon....
Nooge
Nooge 1
Or Russia
blackstock
You state, "And China would get mad. Can't have China mad at us."

I've not seen anyone say this, so it's not an implied quote. Is this your attitude? You are worried it would make China mad? If not, I wonder whose attitude do you supposed to be echoing here?
johntaylor571
John Taylor 8
Quit monitoring and shoot it down. It's in our airspace. Do they think China would let us just hang out in their airspace spying on them? No sirree nor would we expect them not to. Didn't a US Navy recon plane get forced down by being hit midair near China allowing them access to all of the tech aboard before returning it? And Russia? Francis Gary Powers anyone?
johntaylor571
John Taylor 4
Also, would the powers that be be afraid to shoot down an incoming missile for fear of "falling debris"?
blackstock
I read what you wrote a few times trying to find a reason other than, 'just because'. List some reasons why it's a better course of action to shoot it down. I would like to hear them.

We do hang out in what China claims is their airspace to spy on them. CF: Spartly Islands

In this case, we assert our international rights of passage regardless of their claims. So far, they have only responded with target radars, lasers and dangerous flying. If they want to play this shell game of, 'we are sorry our balloon got lose', let's learn what we can via the novel incident and escalation. China plays differently than others. We need to learn how to play, not blindly rely on tactics learned 70 years ago. I assure you; this is not weakness and right out of 'The Art of War."

As of now, the US Secretary of State has postponed his visit to China until they provide more answers. That is answer enough.
Jksr
John Kline 2
Come on,next we will be on the lookout for Chinese spy rowboats ?
LeanderWilliams
I have questions as to what the government perceives as a Spy Balloon targeting specific high-value surveillance sites. Is this balloon powered? Does it have maneuvering capabilities? I thought that balloons were subject to the prevailing winds. Are they going to call Tom Cruise to go shoot it down?
blackstock
Here is how Wired says that Google's Loon did it:

Loon’s balloons navigate by moving up and down, looking for the air currents that will take them where they need to be. To do that, they are not “hand-flown,” or manually directed by human beings. Instead, they follow complex algorithms that Candido’s team has spent years honing, a computer-borne approach to the world that produces flight paths that seem anything but elementary.

Looking, I see a few public datasets that would be helpful. Such as, Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service. I would be surprised if the Loon project has not shared at least some of their scientific data. It does appear that the Chinese aircraft has a much larger solar surface area than the Loon balloons, so they may have a power budget for more active maneuvering fans.
TiredTom
Tom Bruce 3
maybe carrying a new version of Covid...
johntaylor571
John Taylor 3
Hahahaha. Good one. But maybe not so funny after all. Remember the Japanese incendiary balloons in WWII? Hmmm.
bbabis
bbabis -5
Afraid someone will get hurt?!!! This administration is helping kill over 70,000 Americans a year through its support of open borders, the fentanyl trade, and drug cartels and then doesn't have the gonads to down a balloon over sparsely populated areas? China Joe once again proves his metal to the CCP.
blackstock
The order to shoot it down was given on Wednesday. Along with that order, the military was allowed to determine the safest way to recover it and the best way to gain the most intelligence value from it. Military command gave military facilities in its path notice on how best to protect their integrity from any information the balloon might gain. The balloon was shot down 8 miles off the coast of South Carlina.

Post like yours align more with interests of other countries than with America's.
RECOR10
RECOR10 -3
However bbadis is correct about what our Govt is focused on. Our people and sovereignty is not it.
blackstock
The order to shoot it down was given on Wednesday. Along with that order, the military was allowed to determine the safest way to recover it and the best way to gain the most intelligence value from it. Military command gave military facilities in its path notice on how best to protect their integrity from any information the balloon might gain. The balloon was shot down 8 miles off the cost of South Carlina.

Post like yours align more with interests of other countries than with America's.

[This comment has been downvoted. Show anyway.]

frankidee
Frank DeLeon 12
Name-calling and trash-baiting should be beneath the integrity of this site. Administrators should monitor this more closely.
scottiwa
Come on
Nooge
Nooge -9
Magatz

Underinformed and over opinionated

Trump loves the uneducated with low IQ
magyar1956
Laszlo Furdek 2
Put your useless facemask back on and hide.
mutigers1987
Michael Cole -1
He must love you then. Pathetic.
Nooge
Nooge 1
Me

Dont blame me for voting for that criminal
raleedy
ALLAN LEEDY -2
And they like to show their ignorance orthographically.
Nooge
Nooge -5
Is mettle actually

China Joe ? hmmm he is sucking up to the Chinese ?

Did he share a gear Chocolate Cake?

I think you are confused about which Administration

I know you are short of breath and one step closer to death so that explains your pre dementia loss of memory


I know it will be hard to et thru this but force yourself

Jan. 22, Twitter:

“One of the many great things about our just signed giant Trade Deal with China is that it will bring both the USA & China closer together in so many other ways. Terrific working with President Xi, a man who truly loves his country. Much more to come!”

Jan. 24, Twitter:



“China has been working very hard to contain the Coronavirus. The United States greatly appreciates their efforts and transparency. It will all work out well. In particular, on behalf of the American People, I want to thank President Xi!”

Jan. 29, Remarks at signing ceremony for the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement:

“And, honestly, I think, as tough as this negotiation was, I think our relationship with China now might be the best it’s been in a long, long time. And now it’s reciprocal. Before, we were being ripped off badly. Now we have a reciprocal relationship, maybe even better than reciprocal for us.”

Jan. 30, Fox News interview:

“China is not in great shape right now, unfortunately. But they’re working very hard. We’ll see what happens. But we’re working very closely with China and other countries.”

Feb. 7, Remarks at North Carolina Opportunity Now Summit in Charlotte, N.C.:

“I just spoke to President Xi last night, and, you know, we’re working on the — the problem, the virus. It’s a — it’s a very tough situation. But I think he’s going to handle it. I think he’s handled it really well. We’re helping wherever we can.”

Feb. 7, Twitter:

“Just had a long and very good conversation by phone with President Xi of China. He is strong, sharp and powerfully focused on leading the counterattack on the Coronavirus. He feels they are doing very well, even building hospitals in a matter of only days … Great discipline is taking place in China, as President Xi strongly leads what will be a very successful operation. We are working closely with China to help!

Feb. 7, Remarks before Marine One departure:

“Late last night, I had a very good talk with President Xi, and we talked about — mostly about the coronavirus. They’re working really hard, and I think they are doing a very professional job. They’re in touch with World — the World — World Organization. CDC also. We’re working together. But World Health is working with them. CDC is working with them. I had a great conversation last night with President Xi. It’s a tough situation. I think they’re doing a very good job.”



Feb. 10, Fox Business interview:

“I think China is very, you know, professionally run in the sense that they have everything under control,” Trump said. “I really believe they are going to have it under control fairly soon. You know in April, supposedly, it dies with the hotter weather. And that’s a beautiful date to look forward to. But China I can tell you is working very hard.”

Feb. 10, campaign rally in Manchester, N.H.:

“I spoke with President Xi, and they’re working very, very hard. And I think it’s all going to work out fine.”

Feb. 13, Fox News interview:

“I think they’ve handled it professionally and I think they’re extremely capable and I think President Xi is extremely capable and I hope that it’s going to be resolved.”

Feb. 18, remarks before Air Force One departure:

“I think President Xi is working very hard. As you know, I spoke with him recently. He’s working really hard. It’s a tough problem. I think he’s going to do — look, I’ve seen them build hospitals in a short period of time. I really believe he wants to get that done, and he wants to get it done fast. Yes, I think he’s doing it very professionally.”

Feb. 23, remarks before Marine One departure:

“I think President Xi is working very, very hard. I spoke to him. He’s working very hard. I think he’s doing a very good job. It’s a big problem. But President Xi loves his country. He’s working very hard to solve the problem, and he will solve the problem. OK?”

Feb. 26, remarks at a business roundtable in New Delhi, India:

“China is working very, very hard. I have spoken to President Xi, and they’re working very hard. And if you know anything about him, I think he’ll be in pretty good shape. They’re — they’ve had a rough patch, and I think right now they have it — it looks like they’re getting it under control more and more. They’re getting it more and more under control.”
bobinson66
bobinson66 1
Time for a little Occam's Razor. The simplest explanation is usually the correct one. Some dude in China was inflating his weather balloon and instead of filling it to 6 feet in diameter, he only went to 5 feet in diameter. When you go to 6 feet, the balloon climbs to 100,000 ft elevation where P1V1=P2V2 tells us that the balloon expands to about 20 feet in diameter. At that size, the latex is stretched to the point of failure and the weather guy can go retrieve his device after the balloon has popped.

Since this guy only filled the balloon to 5 feet in diameter, the balloon was only able to climb to 80,000 feet in elevation where the balloon only expands to 16 feet in diameter. Since the latex is not stressed to the point of failure, it just flows along with the currents for thousands of miles but the weather guy in China has one less weather balloon device in his inventory.

https://www.weather.gov/bmx/kidscorner_weatherballoons#:~:text=Twice%20a%20day%2C%20every%20day,up%20to%20over%20100%2C000%20ft.
jmontani
Joseph Montani 1
Aha, wait. I looked a bit further East on the FlightAware map, and I see a balloon with call sign "HBAL617". It's now over the Atlanta / Macon Georgia area. I'm not sure this is the Chinese balloon, but it is at 62000 ft, w/ heading 119 deg at 31 MPH. Might not be the balloon of interest, but it's interesting anyway. It seems the only balloon with ADS-B on the USA map today.
jmontani
Joseph Montani 1
Oops, the FlightAware info shows a US flag associated with this balloon over Georgia, so it's evidently not the Chinese balloon at all. Interesting that they're at about the same altitude, coincidence.
Nooge
Nooge 2
Our lack of intelligence committee member says its a jewish soace laser not a bag of hot air like her leader
paultrubits
paul trubits 1
It might have been made in China like most of our goods
fireftr
Dale Ballok 1
Two things. First, don’t you think the payload would incur less damage landing in water than on land? Second, I think we should package up the balloon remnants and send it back to China with a note “Did you lose this”?!
malmsten
david malmsten 1
"....deviated far from its planned course". Typical made in china garbage!
malmsten
david malmsten 1
"deviated far from its planned course". Typical made in china garbage!
lsargent98
Linda Sargent 1
Is there a limit to how much airspace a country ‘owns’ above it?
blackstock
There are not many global treaties. I know of none aggreged upon by all nations. For example, there is the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, the 1968 Rescue agreement and the 1976 Registration Convention that covers space objects (both manned, unmanned, armed/unarmed). Interestingly, some of these agreements had their framework much like how we govern the Antarctic. Also, as far as I know, none of these agreements define were outer space actually start. Some would argue it's the Kármán line, but that is just a generally accepted scientific convention, and nothing else.

Like many things in our world, it's defined by the technical ability of a nation to perform the violence of action to enforce it. This is tempered by the character of the nation. We and a couple of peers, near-peer-level militaries have space denial weapons. Others don't. Thus, some agreement would be meaningless. You own what you have the temperament to defend or the temperament to allow trespass on. Allowing trespass is not always the weakest hand.
blackstock
There are not many global treaties. I know of none aggreged upon by all nations. For example, there are the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, the 1968 Rescue agreement and the 1976 Registration Convention that covers space objects (both manned, unmanned, armed/unarmed). Interestingly, some of these agreements had their framework much like how we govern the Antarctic. Also, as far as I know, none of these agreements define were outer space actually start. Some would argue it's the Kármán line, but that is just a generally accepted scientific convention, and nothing else.

Like many things in our world, it's defined by the technical ability of a nation to perform the violence of action to enforce it. This is tempered by the character of the nation. We and a couple of peers, near-peer-level militaries have space denial weapons. Others don't. Thus, some agreement would be meaningless. You own what you have the temperament to defend or the temperament to allow trespass on. Allowing trespass is not always the weakest hand.
josephpendleton333
I think I found it, as of 9:05EST on 2/03/2023 HBAL617
ed7778
There are no civilian research projects in China.
aurodoc
aurodoc 1
Seems like a lot of news hype to me. An uncontrollable weather balloon off course most likely. The news loves to amp up unnewsworthy stories.
slickdog1
Mark Hunley 7
How do we know it’s a weather balloon ? Because the Chinese say so !
johntaylor571
John Taylor 4
Sure. Nothing to see here. Just go on about your business sheep. Keep your heads down to the grass being fed to you.
iflyrjs
terry gersdorf 1
The balloon has been slowly dispersing the Coronavirus
blackstock
What's new. The Right has been doing that for 3 years.
KenWD0ELQ
Ken Mitchell 1
The US should order the CCP to have the balloon land. It's maneuverable; it can move up or down to ride favorable winds. So, it can land. Order China to have the balloon land. If it doesn't, shoot it down AND void all overflight privileges for Chinese airliners in the United States. Next step; block American tourists from going to China.

They need us more than we need them.

[This comment has been downvoted. Show anyway.]

ewrcap
David Beattie -1
You mean like Trump inviting Russians into the White House unescorted by security.
StephenV
StephenV 1
Wow. The TDS is strong with this one.
blackstock
Actually, as it comes to US Airspace incursions for China Balloons, it is:

Trump scored 0 for 2

Biden scored 1 for 2
Nooge
Nooge -8
David

Dont try and reason with a Trumpterd

They cannot be brought back from the alternate reality
StephenV
StephenV 0
Meanwhile, this one has a chronic case of TDS.
blackstock
Actually, as it comes to US Airspace incursions for China Balloons, it is:

Trump scored 0 for 2

Biden scored 1 for 2
mutigers1987
Michael Cole -4
Wow, “Trumptard.” You just come up with that? Pretty much sums up your level of intelligence.
Nooge
Nooge 1
Your level of intelligence is demonstrated by your voting record and your Wow, “Trumptard.”

I wrote Trumpterd but take your pick you do have so level of self awareness

And BTW I was calling out Sparkie so stay out of rational peoples conversations
Nooge
Nooge 1
Your level of intelligence is demonstrated by your voting record and your Wow, “Trumptard.”

I wrote Trumpterd but take your pick you do have some level of self awareness

And BTW I was calling out Sparkie so stay out of rational peoples conversations
Nooge
Nooge 0
I think you are confused about which Administration is in their pocket Sparky

Jan. 22, Twitter:

“One of the many great things about our just signed giant Trade Deal with China is that it will bring both the USA & China closer together in so many other ways. Terrific working with President Xi, a man who truly loves his country. Much more to come!”

Jan. 24, Twitter:



“China has been working very hard to contain the Coronavirus. The United States greatly appreciates their efforts and transparency. It will all work out well. In particular, on behalf of the American People, I want to thank President Xi!”

Jan. 29, Remarks at signing ceremony for the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement:

“And, honestly, I think, as tough as this negotiation was, I think our relationship with China now might be the best it’s been in a long, long time. And now it’s reciprocal. Before, we were being ripped off badly. Now we have a reciprocal relationship, maybe even better than reciprocal for us.”

Jan. 30, Fox News interview:

“China is not in great shape right now, unfortunately. But they’re working very hard. We’ll see what happens. But we’re working very closely with China and other countries.”

Feb. 7, Remarks at North Carolina Opportunity Now Summit in Charlotte, N.C.:

“I just spoke to President Xi last night, and, you know, we’re working on the — the problem, the virus. It’s a — it’s a very tough situation. But I think he’s going to handle it. I think he’s handled it really well. We’re helping wherever we can.”

Feb. 7, Twitter:

“Just had a long and very good conversation by phone with President Xi of China. He is strong, sharp and powerfully focused on leading the counterattack on the Coronavirus. He feels they are doing very well, even building hospitals in a matter of only days … Great discipline is taking place in China, as President Xi strongly leads what will be a very successful operation. We are working closely with China to help!

Feb. 7, Remarks before Marine One departure:

“Late last night, I had a very good talk with President Xi, and we talked about — mostly about the coronavirus. They’re working really hard, and I think they are doing a very professional job. They’re in touch with World — the World — World Organization. CDC also. We’re working together. But World Health is working with them. CDC is working with them. I had a great conversation last night with President Xi. It’s a tough situation. I think they’re doing a very good job.”

MOST READ
image.jpg
Jobs blowout: What the employment report means for Biden and Powell
Judge demands answers after Jan. 6 defendant recants guilt
The State Where the GOP Would Rather Lose Than Change
Jordan fires off first subpoenas against Biden admin
Senate Democrat joins GOP in thumping Biden over Chinese balloon response


Feb. 10, Fox Business interview:

“I think China is very, you know, professionally run in the sense that they have everything under control,” Trump said. “I really believe they are going to have it under control fairly soon. You know in April, supposedly, it dies with the hotter weather. And that’s a beautiful date to look forward to. But China I can tell you is working very hard.”

Feb. 10, campaign rally in Manchester, N.H.:

“I spoke with President Xi, and they’re working very, very hard. And I think it’s all going to work out fine.”

Feb. 13, Fox News interview:

“I think they’ve handled it professionally and I think they’re extremely capable and I think President Xi is extremely capable and I hope that it’s going to be resolved.”

Feb. 18, remarks before Air Force One departure:

“I think President Xi is working very hard. As you know, I spoke with him recently. He’s working really hard. It’s a tough problem. I think he’s going to do — look, I’ve seen them build hospitals in a short period of time. I really believe he wants to get that done, and he wants to get it done fast. Yes, I think he’s doing it very professionally.”

Feb. 23, remarks before Marine One departure:

“I think President Xi is working very, very hard. I spoke to him. He’s working very hard. I think he’s doing a very good job. It’s a big problem. But President Xi loves his country. He’s working very hard to solve the problem, and he will solve the problem. OK?”

Feb. 26, remarks at a business roundtable in New Delhi, India:

“China is working very, very hard. I have spoken to President Xi, and they’re working very hard. And if you know anything about him, I think he’ll be in pretty good shape. They’re — they’ve had a rough patch, and I think right now they have it — it looks like they’re getting it under control more and more. They’re getting it more and more under control.”
Jeepasaurusrex
Clarence Gilbert -4
Its Hunters friends coming to pay a visit!
Nooge
Nooge 1
Or Jared's bone saw brigade friends coming to pay us a visit again ?

You know the "friends" who flew planes in to our buildings !!

NBC

The top 11 favors the Trump administration has done for Saudi Arabia
Wednesday's vetoes are the latest in a list of moves that aid the kingdom, which Trump says is a bulwark against Iran and a good customer for U.S. weapons.
rdeaguiar
Maybe us military is aware of some self-destructing mechanism in these spy balloons so that the technology can't be examined by anyone who successfully captures it. Probably what we have on our spy balloons, so why would we expect the chinese to do differently.
Geldridge
Gary Eldridge 0
This is nothing new. It has been going on for quite some time and so why do we call attention to it now? In fact the U.S. has been launching these large surveillance balloons in this very same region since 2019. They stay aloft for several days or even weeks before bringing them down. How do we know this isn't a U.S. based balloon? Amateur radio operators have been launching their pico balloons (party balloons of mylar filled with helium) equipped with tiny solar powered radio transmitters for many years and these balloons can circumnavigate the Earth many times before coming down. You can track these balloons on a live map at https://amateur.sondehub.org/#!mt=Mapnik&mz=5&qm=12h&mc=39.57182,-93.38379
wd73383
WD Rseven -2
As soon as a commmie opens his mouth, you know he is lying.
CandySheeran
Candy Sheeran -4
Biden, too....
Nooge
Nooge 2
Its actually Bye Don

He rid us on a criminal

Stop the squeal he lost
Nooge
Nooge 0
And the Dunce could not figure that out

What a clown ..funny except for the price we paid

Jan. 22, Twitter:

“One of the many great things about our just signed giant Trade Deal with China is that it will bring both the USA & China closer together in so many other ways. Terrific working with President Xi, a man who truly loves his country. Much more to come!”

Jan. 24, Twitter:



“China has been working very hard to contain the Coronavirus. The United States greatly appreciates their efforts and transparency. It will all work out well. In particular, on behalf of the American People, I want to thank President Xi!”

Jan. 29, Remarks at signing ceremony for the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement:

“And, honestly, I think, as tough as this negotiation was, I think our relationship with China now might be the best it’s been in a long, long time. And now it’s reciprocal. Before, we were being ripped off badly. Now we have a reciprocal relationship, maybe even better than reciprocal for us.”

Jan. 30, Fox News interview:

“China is not in great shape right now, unfortunately. But they’re working very hard. We’ll see what happens. But we’re working very closely with China and other countries.”

Feb. 7, Remarks at North Carolina Opportunity Now Summit in Charlotte, N.C.:

“I just spoke to President Xi last night, and, you know, we’re working on the — the problem, the virus. It’s a — it’s a very tough situation. But I think he’s going to handle it. I think he’s handled it really well. We’re helping wherever we can.”

Feb. 7, Twitter:

“Just had a long and very good conversation by phone with President Xi of China. He is strong, sharp and powerfully focused on leading the counterattack on the Coronavirus. He feels they are doing very well, even building hospitals in a matter of only days … Great discipline is taking place in China, as President Xi strongly leads what will be a very successful operation. We are working closely with China to help!

Feb. 7, Remarks before Marine One departure:

“Late last night, I had a very good talk with President Xi, and we talked about — mostly about the coronavirus. They’re working really hard, and I think they are doing a very professional job. They’re in touch with World — the World — World Organization. CDC also. We’re working together. But World Health is working with them. CDC is working with them. I had a great conversation last night with President Xi. It’s a tough situation. I think they’re doing a very good job.”

MOST READ
image.jpg
Jobs blowout: What the employment report means for Biden and Powell
Judge demands answers after Jan. 6 defendant recants guilt
The State Where the GOP Would Rather Lose Than Change
Jordan fires off first subpoenas against Biden admin
Senate Democrat joins GOP in thumping Biden over Chinese balloon response


Feb. 10, Fox Business interview:

“I think China is very, you know, professionally run in the sense that they have everything under control,” Trump said. “I really believe they are going to have it under control fairly soon. You know in April, supposedly, it dies with the hotter weather. And that’s a beautiful date to look forward to. But China I can tell you is working very hard.”

Feb. 10, campaign rally in Manchester, N.H.:

“I spoke with President Xi, and they’re working very, very hard. And I think it’s all going to work out fine.”

Feb. 13, Fox News interview:

“I think they’ve handled it professionally and I think they’re extremely capable and I think President Xi is extremely capable and I hope that it’s going to be resolved.”

Feb. 18, remarks before Air Force One departure:

“I think President Xi is working very hard. As you know, I spoke with him recently. He’s working really hard. It’s a tough problem. I think he’s going to do — look, I’ve seen them build hospitals in a short period of time. I really believe he wants to get that done, and he wants to get it done fast. Yes, I think he’s doing it very professionally.”

Feb. 23, remarks before Marine One departure:

“I think President Xi is working very, very hard. I spoke to him. He’s working very hard. I think he’s doing a very good job. It’s a big problem. But President Xi loves his country. He’s working very hard to solve the problem, and he will solve the problem. OK?”

Feb. 26, remarks at a business roundtable in New Delhi, India:

“China is working very, very hard. I have spoken to President Xi, and they’re working very hard. And if you know anything about him, I think he’ll be in pretty good shape. They’re — they’ve had a rough patch, and I think right now they have it — it looks like they’re getting it under control more and more. They’re getting it more and more under control.”
steerts
Why not use the 747 with the laser system that is able to shoot down incoming ICBM's. Maybe Biden is unaware of it as he is most things.
OccamsRazor
Ben Bosley 6
That was only a testing platform and the program was cancelled in 2014.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_YAL-1
Nooge
Nooge 1
He is in the WH and The POSOTUS will he headed to Sing Sing
MichaelFoster
Michael Foster -1
I think this balloon is one of the "Hunter" series balloons......
Nooge
Nooge 1
Funded by Jared's Hedge fund
jmichonski
It’s over NE now
oscarsf8
Oscar Figari 0
we need to take action and shoot it down
williamableman
If they were to shoot it down what better place to do it then in Montana, because what would it fall on, an open field?! Heaven forbid. Anywhere else, it definitely would fall on "something".
blackstock
I think they will try a capture mission on the East Coast waters. The US has a high military presence there, especially the US Navy. Joint base Langley-Eustis has the F22 which has a published service ceiling of 65,000 feet and hopefully can approach the target undetected. Jam command-and-control to it, put holes in the balloon. Try to recover it, even with HC-130
curtisedwards
Curtis Edwards 0
DOD says that it is "monitoring" the balloon. Since when did the role of DOD become "monitoring"? That's like keeping an eye on a thief that is already in your house.

Maybe DOD has forgotten that its name is Dept of DEFENSE? Maybe they need a refresher course in their role / the division of labor? "Monitoring" belongs to NSA and others. Or, maybe DOD would like to request a name change from US Dept of Defense to US Dept of Monitoring?

All of the best defense technologies and equipment (funded for by citizen taxpayers to the tune of 816 billion dollars in 2023) are of no value if there is a failure of mission and command / implementation. The US Air Defense System should have immediately identified the incursion, notified the citizenry, and neutralized the "airship".
blackstock
So, let me get this clear. You admit that the US DoD has the capability to bring down the balloon. (if I'm right, that is what you are saying). Don't you think that China knows the US has the capability to remove this object with the 'best defense technologies' in the world?

As I stated, China is fully aware we did not remove this airship because of the lack of capability. I also don't believe they think we lack the resolve to do so.

Right now, there are many people in China with sleepless nights trying to figure out why the US DoD did not take your course of action. They seem to share a parallel set of worries as you.

So, I'm trying to find your source of worries if you are willing to articulate them.
blackstock
**for clarity"" As I stated, China is fully aware we did not remove this airship because of the lack of capability. Should read: As I stated, China is fully aware we did not remove this airship simply because of the lack of capability, we could remove it at any moment.
mayt2u
Robert Plews 0
It's funny that no one picked up the balloon, (on the radar) until Montana. I think it was first seen from a radar operation, operated in partnership with the Department of National Defence (RCAF), a detector at Stoney Mountain, Anzac, Alberta close to CYMM (CASFM). (This was built in 1956 and was decommissioned in 1965. The weather/RCAF has kept up a dome in this area since.) A new weather dome was put up to look over the 250 km level and it can look out over 1000 km on a clear day. The earth's curvature and the distance of the radar kept the balloon 1.7 degrees above the earth (31 km). Canadians saw it first (blind luck) now everyone wants a piece.
bidrec
Richard Haas -5
The US Navy released a weather balloon in Rota Spain every night. As far as I know the Spanish never complained.
johntaylor571
John Taylor 4
We were allies and shared the data obtained with the Spanish. Apples and oranges mu friend.
bidrec
Richard Haas 1
I live in a university town. My neighbors are Chinese grad students studying engineering. I am not sure that we are not allies. Besides the Russian cosmonaut said of the International Space Station, "Some of the components are Russian and some of the components are American but they are all made in China."

Giriş

Hesabınız yok mu? Kişiselleştirilmiş özellikler, uçuş uyarıları ve daha fazlası için şimdi (ücretsiz) üye olun!
FlightAware uçuş takibinin reklamlarla desteklendiğini biliyor muydunuz?
FlightAware.com'dan gelen reklamlara izin vererek FlightAware'in ücretsiz kalmasını sağlamamıza yardım edebilirsiniz. harika bir deneyim sunmak adına reklamlarımızı anlamlı ve öne çıkmayacak şekilde tutmak için yoğun şekilde çalışıyoruz. FlightAware'deki whitelist adsreklamları güvenilir olarak görmek hızlı ve kolaydır, veya lütfen premium hesaplarımıza geçmeyi düşünün.
Kapat