Chinese Spy Balloon Flying over the United States

[SB Shock]

Chinese spy balloon: US tracks suspected surveillance device - BBC News

The balloon was sighted over montana. Flying over a number of sensitive sites. It payload is the size of 3 buses.

Pentagon has recommended not shooting it down because it might hurt the ground.

Chinese response is that the U.S. should remain "calm"

[JJClamdip]

Shoot the f ucking thing down.

[ShockerPrez]

Thanks for the gift, China. I guess now we need to figure out how to retrieve it and hack the **** out of it.

[shoxlax]

Chinese spy balloon: US tracks suspected surveillance device - BBC News

The balloon was sighted over montana. Flying over a number of sensitive sites. It payload is the size of 3 buses.

Pentagon has recommended not shooting it down because it might hurt the ground.

Chinese response is that the U.S. should remain "calm"

Payload? Unless the thing is one big giant bomb doubt there is a payload. Or is that what you meant?

[JVShocker]

That's no balloon, that's a space station.

[shoxlax]

John Dutton’s going to be pissed.

[SB Shock]

Payload? Unless the thing is one big giant bomb doubt there is a payload. Or is that what you meant?

If u look at picture under the ballon - it is carrying a payload. What is the payload? The US says it believes it spy sensors. China says it is just meteorological equipment. But this payload has been estimated to be the size of several buses.

[ShockerPrez]

If u look at picture under the ballon - it is carrying a payload. What is the payload? The US says it believes it spy sensors. China says it is just meteorological equipment. But this payload has been estimated to be the size of several buses.

Was the payload that big or the whole thing including the balloon?

[ShockerPrez]

This kind of boggles my mind on how we can allow this thing to enter our airspace. What if it was a nuke? What if it's a secret biological weapon? What if it has (gasp) COVID?

I suspect that aside from the intel it may be gathering, it's harmless, but still. China wouldn't let us float a balloon over their country. I suspect once it hit 11.99 miles off their coast it would have been blasted.

[SB Shock]

Canada monitoring potential second incident of suspected ‘spy balloon’ | The Independent

Canada’s national defence confirmed on Friday a potential second incident of a suspected spy balloon and said that officials are monitoring it.

[SB Shock]

Was the payload that big or the whole thing including the balloon?

It is not all that clear in the reporting to this point. If you get decent picture you can tell the payload is sizable, but there is no reference.

The Pentagon would not give a precise size this morning, but did say "that any shootdown could cause a significant debris field and possible damage or deaths on the ground"

Pentagon also said they know it is a surveillance balloon, not a weather balloon.

[BAShocker]

Get Rip and take that balloon to the Train Station.

[ShockerPrez]

I want to see it now. Its supposed to go over KC. And consequently, pretty dang close to Whiteman AFB. Ya know, where our Stealth bombers are stationed. Man, those Chicoms hit the jackpot on their 'unmaneuverable' balloon.

[Kung Wu]

If u look at picture under the ballon - it is carrying a payload. What is the payload? The US says it believes it spy sensors. China says it is just meteorological equipment. But this payload has been estimated to be the size of several buses.

Seems like a feasibility study of the worst kind to me.

[SB Shock]

I want to see it now. Its supposed to go over KC. And consequently, pretty dang close to Whiteman AFB. Ya know, where our Stealth bombers are stationed. Man, those Chicoms hit the jackpot on their 'unmaneuverable' balloon.

It is visible in KC right now. Seen some pictures taken on the ground by the NWS.