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US jet shoots down unknown object flying off Alaska coast

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Re: US jet shoots down unknown object flying off Alaska coast

#421

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It does not explain why these were observed on radar as well. The lens flare was caused by the camera looking at the ass end of another jet. The radar saw the other jet. For even one of these videos to have a mundane explanation that should have been obvious to the Navy upon investigation, I think that discredits the lot. Either the Navy couldn't figure it out themselves (which seems highly improbable), or for some…

The Navy was directed by the Executive branch to release the videos. They released the videos and a non-statement about what the videos were. My guess is that there's an internal report describing the FLIR system and how the FLIR system works and how the internal workings of the FLIR system caused the visual phenomena. But that's all classified. So they did the absolute minimum the Executive branch required them to d…

I could be wrong, but this doesn’t seem accurate. The videos were leaked some time ago, and in 2020 the DOD confirmed that they were legitimate videos from the Navy (https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/216571...).

As for the other reports/hearings, it seems like it’s driven more by Congress. For example: https://www.dni.gov/files/ODNI/documents/assessments/Prelima...

> This preliminary report is provided by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) in response to the provision in Senate Report 116-233, accompanying the Intelligence Authorization Act (IAA) for Fiscal Year 2021, that the DNI, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense (SECDEF), is to submit an intelligence assessment of the threat posed by unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) and the progress the Department of Defense Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force (UAPTF) has made in understanding this threat.

Re: US jet shoots down unknown object flying off Alaska coast

#422

There was a fun theory on UFOs I saw recently. The general premise is this: U.S. adversaries realized they couldn't compete with the U.S. on spending. So they got creative and loaded the equivalent of Pringles cans up with a bunch of sensors, hooked them up to either a balloons or relatively cheap unmanned aircraft, and sent them through U.S. airspace to collect intelligence. They'd occasionally get caught (perhaps o…

This is a cat and mouse game that we've been playing for decades. USA has surveillance aircraft in the air at all times, especially near ADIZ. It also has at least one of two national command and control aircraft in the air at all times. The USA has been probed more times than can be counted, and we've probed other countries just as much. What's new is ignoring a threat while over territorial waters or sparsely popul…

I don’t think that’s new based on the most recent incident. I recall the pentagon saying this has been going on for a few years. But if, by saying new you mean the last decade, that’s fair.

Re: US jet shoots down unknown object flying off Alaska coast

#423

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Does the flight time for these operations reduce the amount of time pilots would otherwise have to spend training and staying current?

Flight hours are flight hours, and it’s very rare to do any type of offensive air-to-air operation outside of an exercise, so I’m sure it was a great training opportunity. Less thrilled about it as someone who happened to be on a flight transiting nearby airspace last night, and who is familiar with incidents like KAL 007.

Maybe not actually launching a missile, but 99% of the pilot job comes before the missile is launched. Going up to fight against other aircraft, doing everything up to actually launching a missile, is a daily thing at any fighter squadron. The great thing about not launching a missile is that you can practice dozens of engagements rather than the one or two oppertunities during a live fire event.

Re: US jet shoots down unknown object flying off Alaska coast

#424

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Those UFOs were lens flares. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsEjV8DdSbs Turns out we like to spend gobs of money even when we're just chasing our shadow.

why does every debunking focus on the footage and ignore the fact the objects were also confirmed on radar? Do they just assume the Navy is filled with morons who decided to report this through the chain of command based on nothing but footage and didn't consider a lens flare?

Isn’t it better to let people underestimate us? Especially any potential adversary.

Regardless, liminal warfare will continue to give rise to this kind of scenario so we should try not to outsmart ourselves in a desperate bid to be right

Re: US jet shoots down unknown object flying off Alaska coast

#425

There was a fun theory on UFOs I saw recently. The general premise is this: U.S. adversaries realized they couldn't compete with the U.S. on spending. So they got creative and loaded the equivalent of Pringles cans up with a bunch of sensors, hooked them up to either a balloons or relatively cheap unmanned aircraft, and sent them through U.S. airspace to collect intelligence. They'd occasionally get caught (perhaps o…

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Re: US jet shoots down unknown object flying off Alaska coast

#426

As reminder, Pentagon has been testing mass surveillance balloons across the US for long time. Here’s story from back in 2019, but these have been flying around much longer and would not surprise me if China got the idea from the US. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34727444

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Re: US jet shoots down unknown object flying off Alaska coast

#427

https://archive.ph/6ZYLp My pull quotes: > The Pentagon downed an unidentified object over Alaska on Friday at the order of President Biden, according to U.S. officials. > Mr. Kirby said the object was traveling at 40,000 feet. He said officials were describing it as an object because that was the best description they had of it. > A recovery effort on the debris will be made, Mr. Kirby said. He said the object was “…

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Re: US jet shoots down unknown object flying off Alaska coast

#428
post #349

I’m releasing a high altitude balloon soon for a prize competition. Whoever guesses the closest landing zone of the balloon wins a new cybertruck. Just a silly promotion for my startup. I really hope my balloon gets shot down by a US jet, the free pr would be great for us. Unlikely my balloon will cross the pond though.

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Re: US jet shoots down unknown object flying off Alaska coast

#429
post #425

There was a fun theory on UFOs I saw recently. The general premise is this: U.S. adversaries realized they couldn't compete with the U.S. on spending. So they got creative and loaded the equivalent of Pringles cans up with a bunch of sensors, hooked them up to either a balloons or relatively cheap unmanned aircraft, and sent them through U.S. airspace to collect intelligence. They'd occasionally get caught (perhaps o…

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Re: US jet shoots down unknown object flying off Alaska coast

#430
post #59

So what’s the deal with these balloons? Provocation? Do they think nobody will notice?

IMO, the balloons are an excuse to raise tensions with China.

Wouldn’t it be prudent in this situation for China to just not send these balloons over the US mainland if they didn’t want to offer the US an excuse to fear monger them?
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