Chinese spy balloon

I read it was the size of a car (instead of three buses) and was at 40k feet instead of 60k feet.

 

The U.S. should probably invent a simpler, more cost effective weapon to shoot these balloons down. It shouldn't require a half-million-dollar missile to shoot down a balloon. (Children have been destroying balloons for hundreds of years.) I'm starting to think that China does not want to reimburse us for the cost of the missile.

 

The U.S. has blacklisted six companies that provided parts used in the construction of China's balloon. China will feel at least some small economic penalty for their espionage. Note to Chairman Xi: You're starting to piss off your biggest customer.

US blacklists 6 Chinese entities over balloon program

I didn't know this bureau even existed.

 

Green is my favorite color so there’s that.

 

Valid point - If China was smart about it they would be launching balloons by the thousands at the moment.

 

Some small holes with a laser might be good for a more gentle landing. The Israelis can shoot down drones with lasers.

 

The one near NC was actually a fairly precise operation, they wanted to wait til it was over water, but just offshore before the water got deep. It needed to come down instantly from where they hit it basically. Maybe a laser could do that, I don’t know. but the missile surely could.

 

Nothing may matter.

 

“First ever” since when?

 

$1.5M is Side Winder missiles and counting but I digress.

This raises a couple of questions. Why is Canada dependent on NORAD? Do they not have their own air defense systems / radar and is Canada so inept that they could not shoot down the balloon of their own accord?

 

it does stand for North American aerospace command

 

Umm Canada is a part of NORAD literally one of the three HQ’s is in a Canadian air base. You do know what NORAD stands for right? I’m have a feeling from abundant clues that you don’t know crap about the military and your avatar is some type of weird appropriation.

 

And the username intentionally ironic.

 

From the NORAD website:
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is a United States and Canada bi-national organization charged with the missions of aerospace warning, aerospace control and maritime warning for North America. Aerospace warning includes the detection, validation, and warning of attack against North America whether by aircraft, missiles, or space vehicles, through mutual support arrangements with other commands.

Aerospace control includes ensuring air sovereignty and air defense of the airspace of Canada and the United States. The renewal of the NORAD Agreement in May 2006 added a maritime warning mission, which entails a shared awareness and understanding of the activities conducted in U.S. and Canadian maritime approaches, maritime areas and internal waterways.
About NORAD

 

If you could bring the balloon down slowly, then you could bring it down over land without risk to people. Then China would get no valuable intelligence at all from their balloons, because they would not be allowed to fly over defense installations. It is usually best to discourage this sort of intelligence gathering, not partially reward it.