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US weighing decision to shoot down Chinese spy balloon over Atlantic Ocean, official tells Fox News
Fox News ^ | February 4, 2023 1:10pm EST | By Lucas Y. Tomlinson , Chris Pandolfo

Posted on 02/04/2023 10:24:04 AM PST by conservative98

The U.S. is considering a plan to shoot down the Chinese spy balloon once it crosses over the Atlantic Ocean, where it could fall without causing harm to anyone below and potentially be recovered, a senior U.S. official told Fox News.

President Biden addressed the balloon briefly Saturday in response to a reporter's question, saying, "we're going to take care of it."

This is a developing story and will be updated.

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 10percent4bigguy; agendafreetv; beijingbiden; biden; bidencrimefamily; bidenisxipuppet; chinaspyballoon; chinesespyballoon; lookner; spyballoon
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To: Grampa Dave

They say it weighs as much as 3 school buses and when it hits the water, it will shatter and not much can be gleaned.


121 posted on 02/04/2023 11:53:09 AM PST by Vaden (Russia: epicenter of globohomo)
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To: PIF
"Not reliable - last time the balloon remained aloft for days - what they do today may remain classified."

Balloon has lost 20K altitude already, was instantaneous blowout on both side of the balloon (AMRAAM with shrapnel?). It folded up into a parachute-type collapse, and is descending at a reliable rate.

122 posted on 02/04/2023 11:54:15 AM PST by StAnDeliver (Tanned, rested, and ready.)
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To: conservative98

The payload self destructed.


123 posted on 02/04/2023 11:54:29 AM PST by XRdsRev (Justice for Bernell Trammell, Trump supporter, murdered in 2020)
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To: marcusmaximus; PIF
M61 Vulcan autocannon used for the shoot down?

Short answer...YES!

Here's an article that PIF posted on another thread.

Lots of information, well worth reading.

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/why-shooting-down-chinas-spy-balloon-over-the-u-s-is-more-complicated-than-it-seems

124 posted on 02/04/2023 11:54:32 AM PST by FtrPilot
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To: marcusmaximus

A seasoned military man such as yourself should know that the military aircraft truly involved have transponders turned off.


125 posted on 02/04/2023 11:55:10 AM PST by Levy78 (Reject modernity, embrace tradition. )
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To: StAnDeliver

thx


126 posted on 02/04/2023 12:07:40 PM PST by Vaden (Russia: epicenter of globohomo)
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To: Paul R.

So WE KNEW when it crossed Japan, so obviously had 2 WEEKS+ to track it.

We are ruled by idiots.


127 posted on 02/04/2023 12:07:41 PM PST by cookcounty (Susan Rice: G Gordon Liddy times 10.)
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To: PIF; FtrPilot; All

128 posted on 02/04/2023 12:16:29 PM PST by marcusmaximus
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To: gundog

What would China risk on this mission?

Not a dam thing with Biden at the helm not a dam thing


129 posted on 02/04/2023 12:16:30 PM PST by al baby (Yes he did he said how come i wasnt invited )
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To: Paul R.

Any bullet out a plane gun


130 posted on 02/04/2023 12:18:18 PM PST by inchworm (al )
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To: Levy78

USAF F-22s FRANK01 & 02 launched from Langley AFB.


131 posted on 02/04/2023 12:37:06 PM PST by marcusmaximus
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To: cookcounty

But no mean tweets and is that what’s really important?


132 posted on 02/04/2023 12:41:48 PM PST by Reily
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To: PIF
Well, I didn't mean that I'd use it on a balloon... ;-)

(I was just considering that much muzzle energy.)

133 posted on 02/04/2023 2:39:05 PM PST by Paul R. (You know your pullets are dumb if they don't recognize a half Whopper as food!)
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To: cookcounty

I can’t argue that.


134 posted on 02/04/2023 2:48:31 PM PST by Paul R. (You know your pullets are dumb if they don't recognize a half Whopper as food!)
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To: FtrPilot

Aim 9 sidewinder.


135 posted on 02/04/2023 3:21:38 PM PST by marcusmaximus
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To: marcusmaximus
The big unknown was the "heat signature" of the balloon.

Sure would like to watch the cockpit video of the shoot down.

Probably shot an Aim-9X Block II.

136 posted on 02/04/2023 3:41:35 PM PST by FtrPilot
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To: FtrPilot

[F-22s are the logical choice as they have a much higher service ceiling than F-15s.]


Why not a Reaper? Long loiter time and no particular risk of the balloon maneuvering to get away.


137 posted on 02/04/2023 6:12:53 PM PST by Zhang Fei (My dad had a Delta 88. That was a car. It was like driving your living room)
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To: gibsonguy

[Actually l think the whole story is BS. The ChiComs are embedded in every institution and all this Hysteria about a spy balloon is a ridiculous rat head fake.]


Sometimes even BS can be useful. The hoi polloi are the salt of the earth. But, on average, they’re none too bright, and prone to navel-gazing. If this finally gets their dander up, after they’ve been asleep at the switch for decades, that’s not such a bad thing.


138 posted on 02/04/2023 6:19:53 PM PST by Zhang Fei (My dad had a Delta 88. That was a car. It was like driving your living room)
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To: Zhang Fei
As it turns out, a Reaper could have performed the shoot down.

The Reaper has a radar and can carry Aim-9X Block II missiles.

The only possible issue is the altitude of the balloon.

At this point, it is hard to argue with success.

139 posted on 02/04/2023 7:18:47 PM PST by FtrPilot
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To: FtrPilot; All

There is absolutely ZERO information on NORAD’s website, about the balloon intrusion. Funny... that-

https://www.norad.mil/

NORAD proudly proclaims their interceptions of Russian aircraft on their website.

Oct. 18, 2022
NORAD detects, tracks, identifies and intercepts Russian aircraft entering Air Defense Identification Zone

https://www.norad.mil/Newsroom/Press-Releases/Article/3192054/norad-detects-tracks-identifies-and-intercepts-russian-aircraft-entering-air-de/

Sept. 12, 2022
NORAD detects, tracks, and identifies Russian aircraft entering Air Defense Identification Zones

https://www.norad.mil/Newsroom/Press-Releases/Article/3155331/norad-detects-tracks-and-identifies-russian-aircraft-entering-air-defense-ident/


140 posted on 02/04/2023 7:25:45 PM PST by freepersup (“Those who conceal crimes are preparing to commit new ones.” ~Vuk Draskovic~)
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