Posted on 02/05/2023 9:42:41 PM PST by bitt
United States government officials have confirmed that a third Chinese spy balloon has been identified in the skies but are refusing to reveal the craft’s location.
The news comes after the U.S. military used an F-22 Raptor to take out a Chinese spy balloon off the coast of South Carolina on Saturday, as Slay News reported.
The U.S. Air Force used a single air-to-air A9X sidewinder missile fired at an altitude of approximately 58,000 feet to down the balloon.
The decision to shoot down the spy balloon came after Democrat President Joe Biden allowed it to fly thousands of miles over the continental U.S. during the last several days.
The Pentagon admitted in a statement that the Biden administration was aware that the balloon was gathering data but didn’t reveal what information it was collecting.
The Washington Post reported that the U.S. officials have identified “a third operating elsewhere,” but they declined to give the balloon’s location.
An official told the Post that Beijing was embarrassed by the incident.
“They’re in a very tough place,” the official said.
“And they have very few cards to play right now.”
The second Chinese spy balloon was detected over South America earlier this week, according to U.S. military officials.
(Excerpt) Read more at slaynews.com ...
.
Looks like China stopped Biden its time and is in frontal “up yours” mode.
Air Force, run by PC incompetents?
Homestly don’t know, it just seems a bit overkill when a few gun rounds could shred the balloon fabric
I it’s not like all objects are stationary, the F-22 is traveling at several hundred MPH, the balloon is moving at a much slower speed, a sidewinder missile can lock onto the balloon versus a 20 mm cannon
Regardless of the method of shooting the balloon down its a great example of asymmetric warfare, a 5th generation fighter armed with expensive sidewinder missiles is needed to shoot down a balloon
Oh, look! Squirrel!
I wonder what they are trying to distract from this time.
Great point.
The laptop from hell was back in the news.
The Chinese probably told the Obozo/Biden White House to keep it secret, as the American Taxpayer should not be told what China is doing to the USA. The Dems have been paid off.
Joe - time for those shotguns you told us all to get
They are helping the Chinese ,why would they tell us?
When balloon hit your eye like a big floating spy,
that’s one more eh,
Then come the repeater gatling guns.
Pretty soon, the horseless carriages!
"Great Scott - These Chicoms are ruthless!"
“When balloon hit your eye like a big floating spy,
that’s one more eh,”
Good one, clever...
Waiting for a ban on telescopes
Rof...Funny as all get out!
They won’t reveal the location of the Chinese balloons to the US citizens? Will they pull this crap when the Chinese invasion happens? It’s almost like they are protecting China now and not letting us defend our country.
They used a million dollar sidewinder to take out a balloon?
A few shots with bullets would have done the job.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.