Breaking News... That Chinese Spy Balloon. Thoughts?

Regarding the F-16 Huron missed missile launch. Curious to know if the first attempt was via visual targeting or electronic track? Probably never know so speculation is rampant.

Chinese, as well as many, many other nations, are dabbling in holographic and other augmented reality projection methods. The recent incidents of Chinese use of lasers in the Philippines and Hawaii demonstrate they are moving apace in this field.

If, in fact, the first Sidewinder launch by the F-16 was a visual, it is possible (albeit, not probable) the object was not where the pilot saw it to be. Second launch undoubtly was electronic track launch and hit the actual target.

Fantasy? Perhaps. Perhaps not.
 

Alligatorob said:
Why do you think we delayed shooting it down?

I can think of a number of things we might have learned by not shooting it down until the last minutes before it left our airspace. Such as:
  • Being as certain as possible of its origin, nature, and mission.
  • Nature of communications being sent out from and received by it. Including our ability to intercept and understand and block those communications.
  • Close up photos and sensor scanning.
  • Patterns of motion, where was it going, including if it appeared to change course in response to our actions.
  • Some idea as to what it might have been carrying that could have caused problems if shot down.
  • Perhaps find a way to capture it in the air, or bring it down with minimal damage.
I'm no expert, and have no knowledge of what the real thinking was, this is just speculation. However it does seem to me it was likely a thoughtful decision to wait and learn what we could before taking it down. And as @Murrmurr has said it doesn't seem likely that the Chinese would learn much from this they don't already know. What harm could have been done by waiting?
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To put it simple, someone probably fell asleep at the switch. Once it passed over the missile sites and the ICBM fields, what else did they take pictures of, cornfields? When the balloon passed over the “mountain” that would have been the best time for the shoot down. After that, government officials may have worried that if the balloon had any heavy equipment onboard and they shot it down, it may have caused destruction or death had its payload hit anyone’s home or business or a person. Had they shot it down before it reached the “mountain” there wouldn’t have been much damage other than maybe killing an elk. You know what I mean when I say “the mountain” don’t you?

But here’s what I find troubling. Some of the material from the balloon has been recovered, so they have some idea what was onboard the balloon. Why hasn’t out government faced China with questions? China needs to be held accountable and charged to pay for the shoot down. Sidewinders are expensive. I also don’t think the news outlets are making as big a deal out of this as they should be. With China first coming at us and now the Russians testing us, I’m afraid we could be headed for another “conflict.” China wants Taiwan very badly and if they don’t try to take them this year, they will next year. They want to do it before Biden leaves office for obvious reasons. Same for Russia. They want to kick the crap out of Ukraine before Biden leaves office. I think that war will end this year. I doubt if any other president will “give” money to Ukraine. I think that Zelensky has another agenda. I can understand why people like him, but I’m afraid they will be disappointed when the war ends and learns of his second agenda, which I hope doesn’t happen, but I don’t hold out a lot of hope for him.
 
ArnoldC said:
Regarding the F-16 Huron missed missile launch. Curious to know if the first attempt was via visual targeting or electronic track? Probably never know so speculation is rampant.

Chinese, as well as many, many other nations, are dabbling in holographic and other augmented reality projection methods. The recent incidents of Chinese use of lasers in the Philippines and Hawaii demonstrate they are moving apace in this field.

If, in fact, the first Sidewinder launch by the F-16 was a visual, it is possible (albeit, not probable) the object was not where the pilot saw it to be. Second launch undoubtly was electronic track launch and hit the actual target.

Fantasy? Perhaps. Perhaps not.
Click to expand...
In (I think) the early 2000s, China/the CCP created an agency that designs and builds "near space" airships, and appointed China's wealthiest, most brilliant IT guy, owner of at least 4 IT business giants and affiliates, as head of this agency. And, of course, this agency belongs to the PLA, China's military.

Just sayin' - China says they are light-years ahead of the US in near-space airship technology. Being ahead of the US is a huge source of pride over there.
 
Been There said:
To put it simple, someone probably fell asleep at the switch. Once it passed over the missile sites and the ICBM fields, what else did they take pictures of, cornfields? When the balloon passed over the “mountain” that would have been the best time for the shoot down. After that, government officials may have worried that if the balloon had any heavy equipment onboard and they shot it down, it may have caused destruction or death had its payload hit anyone’s home or business or a person. Had they shot it down before it reached the “mountain” there wouldn’t have been much damage other than maybe killing an elk. You know what I mean when I say “the mountain” don’t you?

But here’s what I find troubling. Some of the material from the balloon has been recovered, so they have some idea what was onboard the balloon. Why hasn’t out government faced China with questions? China needs to be held accountable and charged to pay for the shoot down. Sidewinders are expensive. I also don’t think the news outlets are making as big a deal out of this as they should be. With China first coming at us and now the Russians testing us, I’m afraid we could be headed for another “conflict.” China wants Taiwan very badly and if they don’t try to take them this year, they will next year. They want to do it before Biden leaves office for obvious reasons. Same for Russia. They want to kick the crap out of Ukraine before Biden leaves office. I think that war will end this year. I doubt if any other president will “give” money to Ukraine. I think that Zelensky has another agenda. I can understand why people like him, but I’m afraid they will be disappointed when the war ends and learns of his second agenda, which I hope doesn’t happen, but I don’t hold out a lot of hope for him.
Click to expand...
The US was in contact with the CCP all during the balloon's flight over the US. Of course the US had questions, and China's initial response was "Oops, didn't mean to." Then they got mad when we shot it down, and said "Give us our balloon back!" and threatened retaliation.

Also, we're already in "conflict" with China. We have been since the 30s, and it's gotten very intense since the CCP started talking openly about Communizing Taiwan to rescue it from its democratic government.
 
hey rob, and guys and gals. Opened the link and scrolled it. Yet to fully read it. Later tonight after days end.

Yeah, this whole incident has kinda quieted down in the media. Somebody put a lid on it? Or just a topic exhausted by the media's tendency to cover any and all topics ad nauseum?
 
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