veteran’s corner
Tom Krabbenhoft
A Chinese balloon has been in the news lately. Not any balloon but a spy balloon. How frustrating the oldest aerial military platform can be a burr under the saddle of the most technological military force ever.
My opinion, this military leadership or administration lacked fortitude once again. It’s completely outrageous this was treated like a Disneyland balloon.
The helium filled balloon was 120ft tall and about the size of 3-4 school buses. It was solar powered. It traveled deftly which makes me believe it had a propulsion system powered by solar. It also took great advantage of the jet streams in its travels. The solar panels also most likely powered the sensors and surveillance equipment on board. Probably directly and by charging batteries on board the craft.
Fun fact, 80% of our solar panels are imported from China.
What did it carry? That is the million dollar question. Electronic sensors that most likely monitored radio frequencies, high resolution cameras, equipment to monitor our atmosphere. The latter could be used for attack purposes. Nano technology could allow for micro sensors to be deployed over strategic parts of the country.
There is unthinkable cargo as well. The balloon could’ve dispersed biological or viral agents over our country. Some agents like Ebola or Anthrax can lay dormant for years. They could be placed in a container that breaks down over time releasing its cargo of mayhem. Certain agents like fungicides could also be carried doing harm. These fungicides could target specific crops.
The way we shot it down was as dramatic as the Oscar’s. A AIM-9 missile was used, a basic heat seeking missile that has been around a while. When it was fired you could see the vapor trail from launch to impact. It was dramatic as they make a smokeless version of the AIM-9. Second, a F-22 Raptor was used, the most advanced fighter of all time. If the F-22 had missed we would’ve been the worlds laughing stock. Risking the chance of supreme embarrassment and the 400k missile cost, we could’ve done something different.
Whatever the case it was overkill to use those assets. It was shameful this balloon was allowed so much flight time over the US.
What is next, the kite from North Korea?
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