Report: Air Force F-16 That Shot Down Object Over Lake Huron Missed on Its First Attempt – First Missile Still Hasn’t Been Located

The Gateway Pundit ^ | February 13, 2023 | Cristina Laila

[Macho MAGA Man]

According to US officials, the Air Force F-16 that shot down an object over Lake Huron on Sunday missed its first attempt.

“A second Sidewinder air-to-air missile was needed.” Fox News reported.

It is unclear where the first missile landed.

[Paul R.]

Pretty “unsubstantial” object for a radar lock, too?

People keep saying “guns”, but, you’d still have to pump a lot of rounds of 20mm cannon to have much effect, correct?

[GOPJ]

LOL - for the $400,000 we’ll be saving a case is a real deal...

[Paul R.]

Was the missile used on the 1st (big) balloon radar guided? In HD it looked to me like the missile detonated just off the balloon and hit it low with a proximity blast directed forward in a narrow cone. So, maybe the missile locked on the payload and the blast cone shredded the bottom of the balloon?

[Paul R.]

Maybe it’s a good thing we’ve since learned Venus is way too hot for any life (at least as we know it) to be there to be upset about getting shot at. /s ;-)

[moovova]

No worries. It’s now hanging over the fireplace mantle.

It’s beautiful.

[Macho MAGA Man]

Lol, don’t let it get too hot 🔥 above the fireplace.

[from occupied ga]

The air force lost a 5 megaton hydrogen bomb in 1958 wasn’t found until 2006. I think an a2a missile hardly counts at all on that scale.

[Telepathic Intruder]

You can hunt game in a helicopter with a rifle. Why would you need anything more against something that doesn’t even shoot back?

[TonyM]

Don’t they have guns that they could have shot it down with?

[rdcbn1]

Balloons are an easy gun kill for an F-16, F-15 or an F-22

Punch a few holes in the envelope and they will slowly descend and land pretty much intact.

It follows that people in the Biden Admin do not want to capture one intact

[daku]

Could a F-35 hover at that altitude ?

[Colorado Doug]

Yes, that is Eddie Rickenbacker

[Colorado Doug]

“Balloon Busting was a thing in 1918. Observation balloons were prime targets for WWl Aces. The altitude of these ones would be a bit out of range though.

[mad_as_he$$]

“Hope the brakes on the airplane weren’t on fire like at the Super Bowl.”

Source? I hadn’t heard about that!

[KobraKai]

High altitude balloons are the ultimate weapon.

[baclava]

Balloon? lololol

The target shot down over Alaska was described as a metallic object.

I demand alien autopsy pics in high def this time!, the secret is out.

[daniel1212]

Maybe it’s a good thing we’ve since learned Venus is way too hot for any life (at least as we know it) to be there to be upset about getting shot at. /s ;-)

Just because there are Russian vehicles on it does not justify shooting at it!

[NorthMountain]

AIM-9X is not your grandfather’s Sidewinder. It’s capable of all-aspect attack and can track targets with much less contrast than the original required.

[steve86]

No, an F-35B couldn’t.

[Taxman]

More like Keystone Kops, IMHO!