Per what I read, the F-22 was operating at 58,000 ft and shot the balloon that was at the time at 65,000 ft. A missile was used because it had to elevate ~7,000

Per what I read, the F-22 was operating at 58,000 ft and shot the balloon that was at the time at 65,000 ft. A missile was used because it had to elevate ~7,000 ft to hit the target. The balloon fell in 47 ft of water, 6 mi from the coast. edit source: https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/3288543/f-22-safely-shoots-down-chinese-spy-balloon-off-south-carolina-coast/ https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/32...