Chinese "weather" balloon floating over the US

[Grunt67]

42 minutes ago, Sleep profit said:

Well that would be disappointing 🛩 lol 

I'm sure someone will find one.

[MacGyver]

In Korea, they allowed balloons and trains in addition to airplanes.

I’d like to

see one of those planes.  

[peejman]

15 hours ago, OLDNEWBIE said:

Figured helium is lighter than air so top holes would vent the gas faster despite pressure issues.

No doubt accurate shooting is difficult but seems the wealth and might of the US should be able to capture a near intact payload next time. There is large swaths of barely populated land that it flew over.

Holes must make it descend somewhat right? Some gas leaks out?

Next time perhaps attempt "over land" numerous large rounds towards the top. Just keep at it. If no luck after it's Swiss cheesed then we know the missile works lol.

 

The pressure difference top to bottom in the balloon is insignificant. 

The trouble with shooting it with bullets is range. If the highest a fighter can fly safely is about 50,000ft and the balloon is at 65,000ft, that's 3 miles straight up.  Add in some horizontal distance and you're looking at a 4 mile shot minimum.  That's not feasible, a missile is the only viable option to bring it down. 

Perhaps a missile with a proximity detonation and let the shrapnel shred the balloon?  It'll shred the payload too, so instead of 1 big piece falling from 12 miles up, you've got lots of medium sized pieces.  

I'd further guess that satellites and other surveillance assets had already determined exactly what it was, and they didn't consider it valuable enough to be worth recovering intact. I doubt there was the equivalent of an Enigma code machine or a Norden bomb sight inside. 

[deerslayer]

More weather balloons?

https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/10/politics/biden-alaska-military-down/index.html

[Alleycat72]

1 hour ago, deerslayer said:

More weather balloons?

https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/10/politics/biden-alaska-military-down/index.html

Maybe we should shoot them while they're still on the ground. LOL

Edited February 10, 2023 by Alleycat72

[GlockSpock]

They are stating that this new object was much smaller, so maybe a drone or even manned plane?

[GlockSpock]

So...maybe an actual weather balloon this time.

[btq96r]

21 hours ago, MacGyver said:

Despite being an air-to-air kill, the pilot will not get a balloon sticker to put on the side of his plane.  

Wait for enough of these encounters.  The way the military loves to make an award for anything will kick in.

[Grayfox54]

Reports are that this new "object" was about the size of a car, appeared to be un-maned and was at 40,000 feet. At that height it could pose a danger to other aircraft. Because of that and the fact that they had no idea what it was, they shot it down. 

I think China is playing dangerous games. 

[Johnny Rotten]

21 hours ago, MacGyver said:

Despite being an air-to-air kill, the pilot will not get a balloon sticker to put on the side of his plane.  

[Garufa]

14 minutes ago, Grayfox54 said:

I think China is playing dangerous games. 

Or that North Korean PITA.

 Not ruling out space aliens either.

[deerslayer]

2 hours ago, Grayfox54 said:

Reports are that this new "object" was about the size of a car, appeared to be un-maned and was at 40,000 feet. At that height it could pose a danger to other aircraft. Because of that and the fact that they had no idea what it was, they shot it down. 

I think China is playing dangerous games. 

In light of America's recent behavior and actions, The Chinese probably don't feel that their games are particularly dangerous, other than maybe prompting the administration to write some more strongly worded letters. 

Edited February 11, 2023 by deerslayer

[ArmyBrat61]

12 hours ago, deerslayer said:

In light of America's recent behavior and actions, The Chinese probably don't feel that their games are particularly dangerous, other than maybe prompting the administration to write some more strongly worded letters. 

I guess the Chinese are Biden their time.

[bersaguy]

On 2/4/2023 at 5:39 PM, Alleycat72 said:

Can you slow the guns down on an f22. 6000 rounds per minute. I'd be hard firing of 3 or 4.

The Raptor F22 is a bad A-- Machine for sure!!!

[bersaguy]

We might want to know what we are shooting at next time. I would hate to shoot down ET by accident !!!

[peejman]

2 hours ago, bersaguy said:

We might want to know what we are shooting at next time. I would hate to shoot down ET by accident !!!

I'm sure they knew exactly what it was, they're just not telling. 

[Garufa]

Another unidentified object has been shot down over Canada.

[Erik88]

26 minutes ago, Garufa said:

Another unidentified object has been shot down over Canada.

What the hell is going on? I read we shot it down over Canada. They don't have their own fighter jets? Seems like a pansy move on their part asking us for help. 

[Daniel]

We have F-22 in Alaska. They do not.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/477th_Fighter_Group

Quote

 

The 477th Fighter Group is an Air Reserve unit of the United States Air Force. It is assigned to the Tenth Air Force, Air Force Reserve Command, stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson, Alaska.

The 477th Fighter Group was reactivated on 1 October 2007 as the first Air Force Reserve unit to fly, maintain, and support the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor."

 

 

Quote

 

"The CF-18s are currently organized into one training squadron and four tactical fighter squadrons stationed at two Canadian Forces Bases (CFBs):

• 410 (Cougar) (Operational Training) Squadron, CFB Cold Lake, Alberta: 15 CF-18.
• 416 (Lynx) Squadron, CFB Cold Lake, Alberta: 15 CF-18.
• 441 (Silver Fox) Squadron, CFB Cold Lake, Alberta: 15 CF-18.
• 425 (Alouette) Squadron, CFB Bagotville, Quebec: 15 CF-18.
• 433 (Porcupine) Squadron, CFB Bagotville, Quebec: 15 CF-18s"

 

•  

Edited February 11, 2023 by Daniel

[crc4]

23 minutes ago, Erik88 said:

What the hell is going on? I read we shot it down over Canada. They don't have their own fighter jets? Seems like a pansy move on their part asking us for help. 

You should remember Canada has a pansy Prime Minister. 

[Daniel]

Just now, crc4 said:

You should remember Canada has a pansy Prime Minister. 

We have a mutual defense agreement.  When people talk about our country having spent more than the next 9 countries combined... that is because we are spending to defend a lot of other countries too.   

[Erik88]

27 minutes ago, Daniel said:

We have F-22 in Alaska. They do not.

Fair enough. They can't defend their own airspace though?

[Garufa]

2 minutes ago, Erik88 said:

Fair enough. They can't defend their own airspace though?

They don’t need to, they have us.

[Grayfox54]

It was shot down as soon as it entered Canadian airspace. If you look at the map, our planes in Alaska were a good bit closer. 

[Chucktshoes]

1 hour ago, Daniel said:

We have a mutual defense agreement.  When people talk about our country having spent more than the next 9 countries combined... that is because we are spending to defend a lot of other countries too.   

This is a bug, not a feature.