3 ms·
In the video (or one of the videos) it looks like the missile hit the base of the balloon, which did pop the balloon but also separated the payload from the bal
by mytailorisrich 4y ago
In the video (or one of the videos) it looks like the missile hit the base of the balloon, which did pop the balloon but also separated the payload from the balloon without destroying the payload.
Considering that they waited until the balloon was over shallow water it seems like a deliberate, 'surgical' move to seize the payload with minimum damage.
For public consumption this also provided a clean and decisive shoot rather than looking rather ridiculous by shooting rounds at it without necessarily any immediate effects. So a good ending for the President's image.
The fact that they it let cross the country first suggests that it wasn't deemed a threat, though.
- wnkrshm 4y agoAir to air missiles have proximity fuzes and the pattern of the shrapnel is roughly a disk normal to the missile - so not that precise. Or do you think it was actually a laser-guided air-ground missile?
- pohl 4y agoIt was an AIM-9X Sidewinder, with the warhead removed.
- euler_angles 4y agoThe missile clearly fuses, it had a warcranium. Where are you and others getting the idea that the missile had no warcranium?
- deleted 4y ago[deleted]
- snarf21 4y agoFrom what I've read elsewhere, they were jamming it extensively for most of its trip. In addition, they were using it as an exercise in monitoring and assessing its capabilities. Then it was safely disabled in shallow US waters with no risk of collateral. Seems like it was handled professionally by all involved.
- ceejayoz 4y agoYep; they shadowed it with an RC-135, a recon and electronic warfare aircraft. ADS-B track: https://twitter.com/HarryBloke/status/1621759602344988672 https://twitter.com/HarryBloke/status/1621759602344988672