e Washington Times - Monday, February 6, 2023
China’s People’s Liberation Army plans to use high-altitude balloons to counter long-range U.S. drones, launch psychological warfare operations and gather intelligence, a review of Chinese military and technical writings reveals.
Beijing also reportedly test-fired a hypersonic missile from an airship in 2018, highlighting the military’s interest in multiple uses for lighter-than-air aircraft.
The U.S. decision to dispatch an F-22 to shoot down a Chinese surveillance balloon off the Carolina coast Saturday, after it traveled across the country from northern Montana, has focused new attention on the capabilities and threats posed by helium-filled, maneuverable craft.
Defense officials said little intelligence could be gained from sensitive military sites along the path despite the delay in knocking out the balloon. The maneuverable craft’s sensors fell into relatively shallow waters intact and are expected to be recovered.
The sensor package, which the Pentagon insisted was monitored and neutralized during the cross-country spying mission, could provide details on its multiple optical systems and its satellite communications links. Another Chinese surveillance balloon was detected recently over Central and South America, the Pentagon said without elaborating.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning denied to reporters again Monday that the balloons are used for spying, and Chinese officials said the Biden administration “overreacted” to the incident.
SEE ALSO: U.S. tracked Chinese spy balloon from the start but held off on attack, NORAD commander says
Yet a 2020 report by four Chinese technicians with the Aerospace Information Research Institute at the Chinese Academy of Sciences revealed key details on Chinese high-altitude balloon sensor capabilities and missions. The report said high-altitude balloons operating in so-called near space — 12 to 62 miles high — offer advantages over reconnaissance aircraft or satellites.
[
link to amp.washingtontimes.com (secure)]
Coastie Patriot
SIC SEMPER TYRRANIS
THE SAME PEOPLE WHO SAID NO GUNS BECAUSE OF POLICE NOW WANT TO DEFUND THE POLICE!!!!
Dr Thaddeus They
They don't really care whether the truth gets out, because the public no longer knows what's meant by "the truth."
Well, I mean, no one can tell the difference anymore between what's real and what's fake.
Anyway, the point is, I can tell you all of this, right out in the open, because it doesn't matter who knows about it. They won't know whether to believe it or not.-
X Files: Lost art of Forehead Sweat
A gun is a tool, Marion, no better or no worse than any other tool, an axe, a shovel or anything. A gun is as good or as bad as the man using it. Remember that.
-SHANE-
Jefferson Smith: You see, boys forget what their country means by just reading The Land of the Free in history books. Then they get to be men they forget even more. Liberty's too precious a thing to be buried in books, Miss Saunders. Men should hold it up in front of them every single day of their lives and say: I'm free to think and to speak. My ancestors couldn't, I can, and my children will. Boys ought to grow up remembering that . - MR Smith Goes To Washington-
to grow up remembering th
My oath to support and defend the constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic has no expiration date!!!
Ten Bears : It's sad that governments are chiefed by the double tongues. There is iron in your words of death for all Comanche to see and so there is iron in your words of life. No signed paper can hold the iron. It must come from men. Outlaw Josey Wales
United States
