Spy balloon: Hobbyists say $12 pico balloon may have been shot down by US as Biden rules out China
1 year, 10 months ago

Spy balloon: Hobbyists say $12 pico balloon may have been shot down by US as Biden rules out China

The Independent  

✕ Close US shoots down four ‘flying objects’: What we know so far The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A group of amateur balloonists has revealed that a pico balloon – which cost as little as $12 – may be among the three unidentified aerial objects shot down by the US military. The Northern Illinois Bottlecap Balloon Brigade told Aviation Week that one of its research balloons last signalled its position on 10 February off the coast of Alaska, putting it on track to float towards Canada’s Yukon territory the next day. In a speech on Thursday, President Joe Biden said that the three objects were “most likely tied to private companies, recreation or research institutions” and that “nothing right now suggests that they were related to China’s spy balloon program”. Mr Biden said that the US military raised its radar sensitivity levels “to pick up more slow-moving objects above our country and around the world” in the days after the Chinese spy balloon flew over North American airspace.

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History of this topic

China balloon spotted near Taiwan amid rising tensions before presidential polls
4 weeks, 1 day ago

China balloon spotted near Taiwan amid rising tensions before presidential polls

India Today  

Taiwan's defence ministry on Monday reported that a Chinese balloon had been detected over the sea to Taiwan's north, the first time since April it has reported such an incident in what Taipei views as part of a pattern of harassment by Beijing. Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, complained that in the weeks leading up to its …

US fighter jets intercept high-altitude balloon over Utah, military says 'poses no threat'
10 months ago

US fighter jets intercept high-altitude balloon over Utah, military says 'poses no threat'

India TV News  

Utah: The US military intercepted a small balloon over the state of Utah on Friday and determined that it posed no threat to civil aviation or to national security. No threat to national security The appearance of the balloon comes just over a year after a US fighter jet off the coast of South Carolina dramatically shot down what it …

US military tracking high-altitude balloon flying over Western US
10 months ago

US military tracking high-altitude balloon flying over Western US

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The US military is …

A small, nonthreatening balloon was intercepted by a fighter jet over Utah
10 months ago

A small, nonthreatening balloon was intercepted by a fighter jet over Utah

Associated Press  

SALT LAKE CITY — A small, nonthreatening balloon spotted flying high over the mountainous Western United States was intercepted by a fighter jet over Utah on Friday, according to the North American Aerospace Defense Command. FILE - In this image provided by the Department of Defense, Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023, a U.S. Air Force U-2 pilot looks down at a …

Chinese spy balloon used American internet provider: US
11 months, 3 weeks ago

Chinese spy balloon used American internet provider: US

Live Mint  

A US official revealed that the Chinese spy balloon, which traversed the United States in early 2023, used an American internet service provider to transmit periodic data related to navigation and location back to China, CNN reported. While the identity of the specific internet service provider remains undisclosed, CNN was informed that the balloon could communicate with Beijing as it …

Two Chinese balloons spotted near Taiwan territory ahead of presidential election
1 year ago

Two Chinese balloons spotted near Taiwan territory ahead of presidential election

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Two Chinese balloons flew north …

Taiwan reports 2 Chinese balloons near its territory as China steps up pressure ahead of elections
1 year ago

Taiwan reports 2 Chinese balloons near its territory as China steps up pressure ahead of elections

Associated Press  

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Two Chinese balloons flew north of Taiwan, the island’s Defense Ministry said Monday, as China increases pressure on the self-ruled territory it claims as its own ahead of a presidential election in January. The balloons crossed the sensitive Taiwan Strait separating the island from China and were detected about 110 nautical miles northwest of the northern port …

Chinese 'spy' balloons spotted near Taiwanese as China steps up pressure ahead of elections
1 year ago

Chinese 'spy' balloons spotted near Taiwanese as China steps up pressure ahead of elections

India TV News  

In yet another incident of Chinese balloons infiltrating a Taiwanese island, the defence ministry claimed at least two Chinese balloons flew north of Taiwan on Sunday. According to the Defence Ministry, The balloons crossed the sensitive Taiwan Strait separating the island from China and were detected about 110 nautical miles northwest of the northern port city of Keelung on Sunday. …

China's Spy Balloon in US: Intelligence agents share intimate details about February incident
1 year, 3 months ago

China's Spy Balloon in US: Intelligence agents share intimate details about February incident

Hindustan Times  

Truth about the Chinese spy balloon has been uncovered by US intelligence. The Chinese spy balloon incident in February had caused much furore in international arena. Pilot's Selfie With Chinese Spy Balloon: US Air Force pilot looks down at the suspected Chinese surveillance balloon. The alleged Chinese spy balloon was downed by the US Air Force fighter aircraft, over the …

Did US deviate from usual sanctions after China balloon incursion? GOP chairman subpoenas documents
1 year, 5 months ago

Did US deviate from usual sanctions after China balloon incursion? GOP chairman subpoenas documents

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The House Foreign Affairs chairman said Wednesday he subpoenaed the State Department for classified documents that could indicate whether the U.S. deviated from its plans for sanctioning China after a Chinese surveillance balloon traversed sensitive military sites across North America Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, said he has subpoenaed the department’s “competitive actions” calendars, a classified list of actions …

Chinese spy balloons spotted over Asia, report
1 year, 5 months ago

Chinese spy balloons spotted over Asia, report

Live Mint  

Months after the shooting down of a Chinese spy balloon off the US coast, a few more such airships were spotted over Japan and Taiwan lately, reported the British media broadcaster, BBC on Monday. Based on the pieces of evidence collected by an artificial intelligence company, BBC reported the presence of China's spy balloon program in the Asian subcontinent. In …

Leaked Intelligence Doc Says US Officials Aware of Four Additional Chinese Spy Balloons: Report
1 year, 8 months ago

Leaked Intelligence Doc Says US Officials Aware of Four Additional Chinese Spy Balloons: Report

News 18  

US intelligence officials were aware of four additional Chinese spy balloons, apart from the one that flew over the North American space and was shot down earlier in February, a report has said. The Washington Post, quoting leaked Pentagon documents, said that apart from the prominently reported China spy balloon incident, a second balloon flew over an American carrier strike …

US intelligence was aware of four extra Chinese spy balloons, leaked Pentagon data reveals
1 year, 8 months ago

US intelligence was aware of four extra Chinese spy balloons, leaked Pentagon data reveals

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy US intelligence agencies were reportedly aware of four extra Chinese …

Taiwan highly vulnerable to Chinese air attack, leaked documents show
1 year, 8 months ago

Taiwan highly vulnerable to Chinese air attack, leaked documents show

The Telegraph  

However, the intelligence does also suggest that Beijing would struggle to sustain a foothold on Taiwan, allowing an opening for the US, Taiwan and its allies to quickly thwart an invasion. ‘Sending fake aid workers’ Meanwhile, a senior Tory MP warned that Beijing could attempt to covertly invade Taiwan by sending fake aid workers in the aftermath of a typhoon. …

China stalls US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's Beijing visit over US investigation into its 'spy balloon'
1 year, 8 months ago

China stalls US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's Beijing visit over US investigation into its 'spy balloon'

ABC  

China has refused to let US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visit Beijing over concerns the FBI will release the results of an investigation into the downed suspected Chinese spy balloon, according to a report in the Financial Times. Key points: China is stalling while it remains unclear what US would do with the information from the FBI report, four …

US shared clues after downing Chinese balloon
1 year, 8 months ago

US shared clues after downing Chinese balloon

Hindustan Times  

Two months after the US shot down a giant Chinese spy balloon off the coast of South Carolina, a top American military official on Monday said that the United States Air Force shared some details of the incident, including how the airship was brought down and the tactical challenges involved, with several air forces, including the Indian Air Force. He …

Discussed shooting down of Chinese spy balloon with India, says U.S. General
1 year, 8 months ago

Discussed shooting down of Chinese spy balloon with India, says U.S. General

The Hindu  

The U.S. has discussed the shooting down of the Chinese spy balloon with India and the challenges involved in its taking down, according to General Kenneth S. Wilsbach, Commander, U.S. Pacific Air Forces. He also said that for the first time ever, two B-1 long range bombers of the U.S. Air Force will join the bilateral air exercise Cope India …

Still assessing what exactly intel China was able to gather from spy balloon, says Pentagon
1 year, 8 months ago

Still assessing what exactly intel China was able to gather from spy balloon, says Pentagon

Firstpost  

The comments from the Pentagon came after a media report said the Chinese spy balloon gathered information about some of the US military sites through electronic signals. Washington: The United States has said it is still doing an assessment of what exactly intelligence information China was able to gather from its spy balloon that flew over sensitive American military sites …

Chinese spy balloon sent data about US military sites back to Beijing
1 year, 8 months ago

Chinese spy balloon sent data about US military sites back to Beijing

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The Chinese spy balloon that passed through American airspace in …

Chinese spy balloon gathered information from sensitive U.S. military sites, says report
1 year, 8 months ago

Chinese spy balloon gathered information from sensitive U.S. military sites, says report

The Hindu  

A Chinese spy balloon that flew across the U.S. was able to gather intelligence from several sensitive American military sites and transmit it back to Beijing in real-time, despite the Biden administration's efforts to block it, a media report said on April 3. A suspected Chinese spy balloon said to be the size of three buses, was spotted over the …

Chinese spy balloon gathered intelligence from sensitive US military sites: Report
1 year, 8 months ago

Chinese spy balloon gathered intelligence from sensitive US military sites: Report

India TV News  

Chinese spy balloons row: Nearly three months after the first Chinese spy balloon was detected over the skies of the United States, senior US officials claimed it had gathered intelligence from several sensitive American military sites. Chinese spy balloon row It is worth mentioning an alleged Chinese "spy balloon" was detected hovering over the skies of the United States on …

Dutch cop monitoring “spy balloon” realizes it’s bird poo on his windshield
1 year, 9 months ago

Dutch cop monitoring “spy balloon” realizes it’s bird poo on his windshield

NL Times  

A police officer in Boxtel joked on social media about his moment while driving that he was concerned that the Noord-Brabant city was the subject of international espionage. “During my surveillance rounds, my eyes fell on a suspected ‘spy balloon’ above my neighborhood,” the community police officer wrote. “I decided to keep following the balloon, and it soon became clear …

US refused to share information on downed Chinese balloon, says China
1 year, 9 months ago

US refused to share information on downed Chinese balloon, says China

India Today  

China's foreign ministry said on Friday that the United States had refused to reply to a Chinese request for information on the balloon that it had shot downed off the coast of South Carolina earlier this month. The Chinese balloon, which Beijing denies was a government spy vessel, spent a week flying over the United States and Canada before President …

Pentagon releases pilot's close-up photo of Chinese balloon
1 year, 10 months ago

Pentagon releases pilot's close-up photo of Chinese balloon

ABC  

A U-2 pilot flying high above the Chinese spy balloon took a close-up photo of the large white orb just a day before the Air Force shot it down off the South Carolina coast. Key points: The balloon was shot down earlier this month by the US Air Force Afterwards, the Pentagon said Navy ships and submersibles recovered the massive …

US Air Force releases new image of suspected Chinese spy balloon
1 year, 10 months ago

US Air Force releases new image of suspected Chinese spy balloon

Al Jazeera  

The photograph was taken from the cockpit of a U-2 spy plane as it flew above the alleged surveillance balloon on February 3. The United States Department of Defence has released a new photo depicting a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon as it travelled across North America earlier this month, igniting a political firestorm. According to the Department of Defence, the …

A Chinese spy balloon, missiles and ‘UFOs’: What we’ve learned about string of objects shot down by the US
1 year, 10 months ago

A Chinese spy balloon, missiles and ‘UFOs’: What we’ve learned about string of objects shot down by the US

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Before President Joe Biden ordered the US military to shoot …

US used excessive force in handling Chinese balloon incident, damaged ties: Wang to Blinken
1 year, 10 months ago

US used excessive force in handling Chinese balloon incident, damaged ties: Wang to Blinken

Hindustan Times  

Beijing: Top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi has told US secretary of state Antony Blinken that the US used “excessive” force in handling the balloon incident and urged Washington to repair the damage its aftermath has caused to bilateral ties. “Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, urged the US side to change course, acknowledge …

No indication that three objects shot down by US linked to Chinese spy balloon programme: Joe Biden
1 year, 10 months ago

No indication that three objects shot down by US linked to Chinese spy balloon programme: Joe Biden

Firstpost  

Washington: The three high-flying objects which were shot down over the American and Canadian airspace this month were not related to the Chinese balloon programme, but most likely tied to private companies, recreation, or research institutions, US President Joe Biden said Thursday. “We don’t yet know exactly what these three objects were, but nothing right now suggests they were related …

Biden wants ‘sharper rules’ on unknown aerial objects
1 year, 10 months ago

Biden wants ‘sharper rules’ on unknown aerial objects

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden said Thursday that the U.S. is developing “sharper rules” to track, monitor and potentially shoot down unknown aerial objects, following three weeks of high-stakes drama sparked by the discovery of a suspected Chinese spy balloon transiting much of the country. The president has directed national security adviser Jake Sullivan to lead an “interagency team” to …

US President Joe Biden says unidentified objects do not appear to be tied to China or espionage
1 year, 10 months ago

US President Joe Biden says unidentified objects do not appear to be tied to China or espionage

ABC  

President Joe Biden has said three unidentified objects shot down by US fighter jets do not appear to have been used for spying on the United States and were likely tied to benign purposes. Key points: Mr Biden said the objects might have been spotted due to enhanced radar After the first suspected spy balloon, he said the military closely …

US completes recovery of downed Chinese balloon debris
1 year, 10 months ago

US completes recovery of downed Chinese balloon debris

Al Jazeera  

US officials say that analysis of debris confirms suspicions that balloon was for surveillance, which China denies. The United States has completed efforts to recover debris from a large Chinese balloon that the US shot down off the coast of South Carolina earlier this month, with analysis so far indicating it was used for surveillance, which China has denied. Officials …

Hobby group worried that F-22’s Sidewinder missile destroyed research balloon
1 year, 10 months ago

Hobby group worried that F-22’s Sidewinder missile destroyed research balloon

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. open image in gallery Students learn how to …

Everything we know about the mysterious ‘spy balloons’ shot down by US warplanes
1 year, 10 months ago

Everything we know about the mysterious ‘spy balloons’ shot down by US warplanes

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. One day later, US officials announced a third “object” was shot out of the …

Did Joe Biden shoot down hobbyists $12 balloon with a $380,000 missile?
1 year, 10 months ago

Did Joe Biden shoot down hobbyists $12 balloon with a $380,000 missile?

Daily Mail  

Hobby balloons cost as little as $12 and carry device that transmits their location It's now suspected the object shot down using $400,000 Sidewinder missile may have been the group's balloon Northern Illinois Bottlecap Balloon Brigade reported one of its balloons 'missing in action' around the same time location jets downed an object over Alaska A mystery object shot down …

Biden wants ‘sharper rules’ on unknown aerial objects
1 year, 10 months ago

Biden wants ‘sharper rules’ on unknown aerial objects

The Hindu  

President Joe Biden said Thursday that the U.S. is developing “sharper rules” to track, monitor and potentially shoot down unknown aerial objects, following three weeks of high-stakes drama sparked by the discovery of a suspected Chinese spy balloon transiting much of the country. The President has directed national security adviser Jake Sullivan to lead an “interagency team” to review U.S. …

Joe Biden reveals details about objects military shot down
1 year, 10 months ago

Joe Biden reveals details about objects military shot down

Raw Story  

President Joe Biden on Thursday spoke to the nation about the unidentified flying objects that have been shot down over the past week. The National Security Council released a statement earlier this week explaining that the three objects after the spy balloon were "benign" and related to commercial purposes. And then they’re taking action, especially when it poses a threat …

China blasts U.S. over response to balloon incursion
1 year, 10 months ago

China blasts U.S. over response to balloon incursion

The Hindu  

China's Parliament has accused American law-makers of trampling on the sovereignty of other nations after the U.S. passed a measure condemning a suspected Chinese spy balloon's intrusion into U.S. airspace. A statement issued on February 16 by the National People's Congress's Foreign Affairs Committee repeated Beijing’s insistence that the balloon was an unmanned civilian weather research airship, a claim the …

Balloons, ‘objects’ – what’s in the sky above the US?
1 year, 10 months ago

Balloons, ‘objects’ – what’s in the sky above the US?

Al Jazeera  

US airspace is increasingly crowded, not all of it is regulated, and with so much up there, it’s not easy to track it all. Los Angeles, California – The United States military shot down a flurry of objects this month: a large object it identified as a Chinese surveillance balloon followed by three smaller objects that the government said might …

Biden says 3 downed objects were probably tied to scientific research
1 year, 10 months ago

Biden says 3 downed objects were probably tied to scientific research

LA Times  

President Biden discusses his administration’s decision to shoot down a Chinese balloon and three other aerial objects recently on Thursday at the White House. The mysterious objects U.S. fighter jets shot down over North America in recent days were probably balloons tied to private scientific research and have no connection to the large Chinese balloon the U.S. military destroyed off …

Biden says flying objects likely tied to private sector, research
1 year, 10 months ago

Biden says flying objects likely tied to private sector, research

Al Jazeera  

US president says objects shot down over North America do not appear to be linked to alleged Chinese spy balloon. Washington, DC – United States President Joe Biden has suggested that the three flying objects detected in North America’s skies in recent days were harmless, saying they were likely linked to private entities or research. “The intelligence community’s current assessment …

The Very Serious Lessons We Should Learn From the Balloon Fiasco
54 years, 11 months ago

The Very Serious Lessons We Should Learn From the Balloon Fiasco

Slate  

And so it seems the Chinese spy balloon’s trek across America was a big misunderstanding—a string of bad luck and misperceptions on both sides—after all. In a major piece by three of the Washington Post’s top national security reporters, officials say that the U.S. tracked the balloon from the moment it lifted off from Hainan Island on China’s southeast coast. …

Latest downed aerial objects could well be 'benign,' US says – Firstpost
1 year, 10 months ago

Latest downed aerial objects could well be 'benign,' US says – Firstpost

Firstpost  

Washington: The three still-unidentified aerial objects shot down by the U.S. in the past week likely had merely a “benign purpose,” the White House acknowledged Tuesday, drawing a distinction between them and the massive Chinese balloon that earlier traversed the U.S. with a suspected goal of surveillance. First, U.S. fighter jets didn’t shoot down what officials described as a Chinese …

Violation of airspace by 'uncrewed surveillance balloons' unacceptable, Japan tells China
1 year, 10 months ago

Violation of airspace by 'uncrewed surveillance balloons' unacceptable, Japan tells China

Firstpost  

Japan said last week it was re-analysing a series of incidents involving unidentified aerial objects in light of a Chinese spy balloon shot down by the United States after crossing US territory Tokyo: Japan’s government on Wednesday told China that violations of its airspace by uncrewed surveillance balloons were absolutely unacceptable. “As a result of further investigation of specific balloon-shaped …

Last three objects shot down might not be spy balloons: National Security Council
1 year, 10 months ago

Last three objects shot down might not be spy balloons: National Security Council

Raw Story  

The National Security Council and White House said Tuesday that the past three objects shot down over the United States might not have been spy balloons. The military hasn't been able to recover the wreckage of the last three objects yet, which is why there isn't much information other than they don't believe it was a spy balloon. "One thing …

The More You Look for Spy Balloons, the More UFOs You’ll Find
1 year, 10 months ago

The More You Look for Spy Balloons, the More UFOs You’ll Find

Wired  

When U.S. government officials in early February identified and eventually shot down a surveillance balloon attributed to China, the prominent acknowledgment of a spy balloon captured public attention and inflamed tensions between Washington and Beijing. But since then, the prospect of the US government intercepting unidentified flying objects has become quotidian, with three UFOs shot down in the past four …

US military says it recovered sensors from Chinese spy balloon
1 year, 10 months ago

US military says it recovered sensors from Chinese spy balloon

Raw Story  

The US military said on Monday it had recovered critical electronics from the suspected Chinese spy balloon downed by a US fighter jet off South Carolina's coast on February 4, including key sensors presumably used for intelligence gathering. "Crews have been able to recover significant debris from the site, including all of the priority sensor and electronics pieces identified as …

Special UFO task force is being set up after US shot down three in three days
1 year, 10 months ago

Special UFO task force is being set up after US shot down three in three days

Daily Mail  

But the Pentagon is still yet to recover the remains for analysis as concerns grow Experts from various agencies will come together to analyze threat of UFOs The White House has announced it is putting together a new UFO task force to study the potential security risks posed by new airborne objects detected in US airspace. :National Security Council Coordinator …

Key sensors recovered from downed Chinese spy balloon, says US military
1 year, 10 months ago

Key sensors recovered from downed Chinese spy balloon, says US military

Firstpost  

Washington: The US military announced on Monday that it had recovered critical electronics from the alleged Chinese spy balloon that was shot down by a US fighter jet off the coast of South Carolina on 4 February, including key sensors presumably used for intelligence gathering. “Crews have been able to recover significant debris from the site, including all of the …

Aliens? Lack of US info on shootdowns breeds wild ideas
1 year, 10 months ago

Aliens? Lack of US info on shootdowns breeds wild ideas

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — With few confirmed details from President Joe Biden’s White House, the downing of three unknown aerial objects in as many days by U.S. fighter jets has prompted wild speculation about what they were and where they came from. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre did have at least one definitive statement to try to tamp down unrestrained theories: …

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