4 ms·

This isn't the first balloon with equipment on it that has overflown US territory (which should also put to rest the 'rogue weather balloon' theory). China has

This isn't the first balloon with equipment on it that has overflown US territory (which should also put to rest the 'rogue weather balloon' theory). China has been doing this ever since Trump started levying import taxes on Chinese goods. This particular balloon was brazen enough to be loitering over military targets for some time. It makes sense to do a shoot down over the ocean so you can have a better chance to recover the payload for analysis.

jeffbee 4y ago
Since you appear to believe this balloon had a surveillance mission, please explain what data it could conceivably have collected that isn't much easier to collect some other way. The military targets over which you suggest this aircraft intentionally loitered do not even have restricted airspaces. Anyone could get in a plane and fly right over them at whatever altitude they choose and nobody would even notice. You can fly circles over Malmstrom AFB until you run out of fuel, if you want.
- Rebelgecko 4y ago
  I think it would be considered illegal espionage if someone working for the PLA rented a plane and flew it over military bases. Balloons have more plausible deniability and less personal risk.
- giantrobot 4y ago
  SIGINT, ELINT, and MASINT. Putting a bunch of radars on a balloon platform is relatively cheap, much cheaper than a satellite. It's also got better plausible deniability than a similarly equipped airplane. Ground penetrating radar over military bases can yield useful intelligence. So can gauging the response times and radio characteristics of air defense radars. Then there's good ol' photo reconnaissance. Such a huge platform could easily have stabilized mounts for high resolution cameras. Being an order of magnitude closer to the targets makes for better photos.
- ascotan 4y ago
  The most likely scenario is the network surveillance. The defense dept has already confirmed the balloon was carrying surveillance equipment. I think the real point here was to probe the US response.

jeffbee 4y ago

Since you appear to believe this balloon had a surveillance mission, please explain what data it could conceivably have collected that isn't much easier to collect some other way. The military targets over which you suggest this aircraft intentionally loitered do not even have restricted airspaces. Anyone could get in a plane and fly right over them at whatever altitude they choose and nobody would even notice. You can fly circles over Malmstrom AFB until you run out of fuel, if you want.

Rebelgecko 4y ago
I think it would be considered illegal espionage if someone working for the PLA rented a plane and flew it over military bases. Balloons have more plausible deniability and less personal risk.
giantrobot 4y ago
SIGINT, ELINT, and MASINT. Putting a bunch of radars on a balloon platform is relatively cheap, much cheaper than a satellite. It's also got better plausible deniability than a similarly equipped airplane. Ground penetrating radar over military bases can yield useful intelligence. So can gauging the response times and radio characteristics of air defense radars. Then there's good ol' photo reconnaissance. Such a huge platform could easily have stabilized mounts for high resolution cameras. Being an order of magnitude closer to the targets makes for better photos.
ascotan 4y ago
The most likely scenario is the network surveillance. The defense dept has already confirmed the balloon was carrying surveillance equipment. I think the real point here was to probe the US response.