US jet shoots down unknown object flying off Alaska coast

Post by ilyt » Sat, Feb 11, 2023, 1:42 AM UTC

godelski wrote: post #503

ajsnigrutin wrote: post #470

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How much does a weather baloon cost? ...compared to a F22 flight, a missle + all the logistics? If it's cheap enough, there will probably be youtubers and tiktokers buying them en-masse just "for the lulz".

> How much does a weather baloon cost? ...compared to a F22 flight, a missle + all the logistics? If this is an actual spy object you also need to factor in the cost of the surveillance. How much money does the military lose due to the sensitive information being lost. Or how much does the military need to spend to regain strategic advantage? That probably costs more than a F22 flight and a missile. Obviously this de…

Post by smegger001 » Sat, Feb 11, 2023, 1:44 AM UTC

samwillis wrote: post #278

1970-01-01 wrote: post #20

We need a cheaper way to down these spy balloons. The sidewinder missile + F-22 flight time costs are an order of magnitude greater than the total cost of launching one balloon. Send over the High Energy Laser with Integrated Optical-dazzler (HELIOS) to protect the west coast.

A "sidewinder missile + F-22 flight time costs" are a rounding error in the national security budget. The experience and lessons learnt from using it are valuable to all layers of the military and administration, significantly more so than the financial cost. (I'm British and so not a US tax payer, just a spectator, but would argue the same here)

Post by bombcar » Sat, Feb 11, 2023, 1:45 AM UTC

ksherlock wrote: post #405

Overtonwindow wrote: post #328

Part of me thinks they wanted to shoot down the first balloon, but the president was kind of incapacitated and unable to give the order. That's the only thing I can think of for why they didn't shoot the first one down when it was over Alaska, but they shoot this one down when it is

New explanation from the Senate Appropriations subcommittee: https://www.wsj.com/articles/chinese-balloon-carried-antenna... tl;dr - nothing important in Alaska ---- Pentagon officials, in testimony to a Senate Appropriations subcommittee on defense, said that the balloon wasn’t deemed to be a threat as it crossed Alaska where it didn’t pass over sensitive sites. They added that no analysis had been done at that poin…

Post by BbzzbB » Sat, Feb 11, 2023, 1:47 AM UTC

susiecambria wrote: post #453

consumer451 wrote: post #47

> Officials said the object was far smaller than the previous balloon, did not appear to be maneuverable and was traveling at a much lower altitude. "Not maneuverable" and "previous balloon" so is it fair to assume that it's a balloon as well?

John Kirby called it an object today during the White House press briefing. He also said it was the size of a small car, unlike the balloon from China that was the size of 2-3 buses. Finally, Kirby said that the object could not direct its own propulsion or direction and was at the whim of the wind. Source: https://www.youtube.com/live/rHGWmyyb9nI?feature=share

Post by ilyt » Sat, Feb 11, 2023, 1:48 AM UTC

CTDOCodebases wrote: post #511

singleshot_ wrote: post #262

Earlier quoted context omitted.

ICBM Airplane on autopilot with dead/sleeping pilot Control surface problem (e.g. 737 elevator jackscrew excursion scenario) (Just thinking out loud/adding ideas, not contradicting).

Jeez imagine if a country decided to launch the first nuclear strikes using their national carriers passenger air planes masquerading as civilian aircraft. Multiple cities all at once.