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Maybe there are some mundane reasons like that help justify it, but a lot of this seems like a bit of a show. I get the F-22 has a high ceiling for operations,
by moose_man 4y ago
Maybe there are some mundane reasons like that help justify it, but a lot of this seems like a bit of a show. I get the F-22 has a high ceiling for operations, but surely you could've shot a missile from a F-16 and accomplished the same thing.
Edit: As proof countries have downed high altitude balloons without F-22s and sidewinders in recent history.
- CydeWeys 4y agoNot guaranteed at all? The ceiling of an F-16 is lower. It's really not guaranteed that that would've worked. These missiles have limited range, and gaining altitude is costliest. It's entirely possible that a Sidewinder would not have worked from an F-16, requiring the use of a longer range, more expensive missile, and even that might not have worked as a balloon is a strange target and they picked this specific weapon system and platform because they believed it to have a high chance of success. Why wouldn't you use your weapon system that has the highest probability of working on the first shot? The entire world was watching.
- moose_man 4y agoYes the entire world is watching. That's what I mean by signaling.
- throwbadubadu 4y agoAnd most of it is amazed how much sensation is made of this (: Brazen invasion, I'll wonder if they (US or China) will release honest details, but I cannot imagine much real purpose there and for now only assume incapability/incompetence.
- moose_man 4y agoI mean I'm not trying to say what effect it had, but high altitude balloons have been downed by multiple countries without F-22s firing sidewinders. I think the choice of F-22 was deliberate because of the visibility. To send a signal.