Chinese Spy Balloon

[Axtremus]

Even if the professional intelligence personnel say "the spy balloon is not spying," the politicians would still grand-stand and claim that (1) you cannot be sure that it's not spying, and (2) demand that it be shot down on a race to appear most hawkish on national security. The military would still get pressured by these politicians to shoot down the spy balloon that they're pretty sure wasn't actually spying.

[George K]

Here we go again...

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/military-tracking-balloon-western-us-military/?linkId=335267968

The U.S. is tracking a high-altitude balloon flying over the Western part of the country, U.S. officials told CBS News. Military aircraft have spotted the balloon and determined it is not a threat, but its origin and purpose are still unknown, the officials said.

Sources familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity said the balloon was drifting east in the jetstream on Friday at an altitude of more than 40,000 feet. Its presence prompted enough concern that the military sent aircraft to investigate.

One official said the balloon was over Colorado earlier in the day and was expected to be over Georgia by Friday night. The official said the balloon appeared to be made of Mylar and had a small cube-shaped box, about two feet long on each side, hanging below it.

The developments come one year after tensions between the U.S. and China ratcheted to new heights after a Chinese balloon carrying sophisticated spying equipment flew over the continental U.S. for several days.

[Mik]

It's over the western US where there is essentially nothing. Shoot it down. they would not be doing this if the information were not of some value, even if it's tracking wind drift.

[Copper]

@Mik said in Chinese Spy Balloon:

the information were not of some value, even if it's tracking wind drift.

Surely the balloon's owner is carefully tracking any and all reactions to the balloon. Any radar tracking, especially from weapons or interception by aircraft or drones will be duly noted.

Hopefully we having guys watching the balloon and learning from it.

[Mik]

It seems like we could just snag the damn thing out of the air. i mean, we can refuel planes in flight. Surely a crew on a C47 could just grab it.

[89th]

Or shoot a laser at it. Or BB gun. Or blow dart.

[Jolly]

Nuclear fallout patterns...

[89th]

True but that data is so incredibly available and open, I can’t imagine the balloon provides any insights.

[George K]

First photo:

[George K]

Again?