2 ms·

CF18 seem to have a service ceiling of 15km. This thing was about 20km high. Could they shoot it if they wanted?

• dendrite9 4y ago
  Man, I don't know. I'm still effectively a kid who thinks planes are cool but never got too into the specs. There was a a satellite shot down by an F-15 so maybe there was a rough plan if the balloon seemed like a big deal? Or the service ceiling is conservative and downgraded? https://avgeekery.com/that-time-an-f-15-pilot-shot-down-a-satellite-32-years-ago-this-week/ https://avgeekery.com/that-time-an-f-15-pilot-shot-down-a-sa... I was reading about the choice of missile used for shooting it down uses lasers for the fuse instead of radar which might have had issues with the balloon depending on the material. Also this seems be the first F22 kill.
• _w9pt 4y ago
  Yes, if they had standard medium range missiles like the AMRAAM.
  • cm2187 4y ago
    But can missiles hit a balloon? I assumed they were designed to target large hot metallic objects.
    • deleted 4y ago
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