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Unlike previous Sidewinder iterations with a single-sensor thermal seeker, the AIM-9X has a thermal imaging seeker - it was used to shoot down the much larger b
by snerbles 4y ago
Unlike previous Sidewinder iterations with a single-sensor thermal seeker, the AIM-9X has a thermal imaging seeker - it was used to shoot down the much larger balloon last week.
https://www.navair.navy.mil/product/AIM-9X-Sidewinder https://www.navair.navy.mil/product/AIM-9X-Sidewinder
- jollyllama 4y agoSo it doesn't really narrow it down that much, then. Could be a plane, could be a balloon.
- themodelplumber 4y agoCould also be a flying promotional bearskin bladder from a local hunting lodge. Which I have to say is where we may start to see a tragic lack of creativity unfolding on China's part.
- exabrial 4y agoDang, you're correct. It still had a thermal signature, but it wasn't as definitive as what I thought.
- jnurmine 4y agoIf it was not a drone, and "not a balloon", what could it be? Assuming this was a drone, the "car-sized", "unmanned", "not a balloon", "not maneuverable" (!?), the operating altitude (40k feet / 13 km), and use of AIM9X (IR/heat seeking) should narrow down the possible drones. Also, one thing I pondered: why F22 instead of F35 to shoot it down? Maybe a question of availability. But, at least publically the F35 operating ceiling is lower than F22, so I was thinking whether the object was in reality higher than the publically known F35 operating ceiling.
- mrguyorama 4y agoThe F22 is America's superiority fighter, still beating the F35 in stealth and capability for anti flying things action. The F22 will probably be the default in most intercept circumstances.
- Animats 4y ago> If it was not a drone, and "not a balloon", what could it be? It could be an unmanned glider with some solar power. Several companies make those. Including Google, which was considering them as data relays back around 2016.