F-22s Scramble from Nellis in Response to Chinese Spy Balloon

[moonstone_laura]

From 'Air & Space Forces Magazine':

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev.—The Pentagon is tracking what it says is a Chinese surveillance balloon over the continental United States, it said Feb. 2.

The U.S. military scrambled two Air Force F-22 Raptors from Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. on Feb. 1 in response to the incident, Air & Space Forces Magazine has confirmed. A senior defense official said the U.S. considered shooting the balloon down over Montana.

“We had been looking at whether there was an option yesterday over some sparsely populated areas in Montana,” the senior defense official told reporters Feb. 2. “But we just couldn’t buy down the risk enough to feel comfortable recommending shooting it down yesterday.”

The balloon remains over the U.S., though the Pentagon said they do not think it poses a significant risk.

“The U.S. government, to include NORAD, continues to track and monitor it closely,” Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Patrick S. Ryder said. “The balloon is currently traveling at an altitude well above commercial air traffic and does not present a military or physical threat to people on the ground.”

Full story here:

https://www.airandspaceforces.com/f-22s ... n-over-us/

[Blackcat1]

It’s only a civilian Blimp mun

[Richard B]

Must admit that it as flown all the way too the USA, more specific over the Montana area and seems to have stayed in and around that area for some time,
Montana Is btw, home to most of the US nuke missle bases.
Either lucky or is it controlled in some way.

[Ghastly Whisper]

and apparently too high for them to shoot down! Well you would, wouldn't you?

[Thunder]

Couldn’t the Chinese just have used Google Earth, it’s a lot less obvious.

[davedubya]

Supposedly had sightings over Michigan and now Missouri. There's a lot of armchair detectives on Twitter trying to work out where it is.

[Blackcat1]

Another one being tracked over Latin America

[C24]

Nothing new, just an update using modern technology. The Japanese launched quite a few during WW2.

[raptor9]

And killed at least five people in Oregon in 1945 with an attached bomb!.

[moonstone_laura]

Here's an interesting piece from 'TIME' that answered the question I'd been asking myself - as the Chinese have an extensive spy satellite network why bother with a balloon!:

https://time.com/6252673/chinese-spy-balloon-satellite/

[davedubya]

Myrtle Beach airport has suspended departures, so maybe something is about to happen in South Carolina.

[colp]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-64524105

[moonstone_laura]

Yes, shot down!

Sky News now showing video of the event:

https://news.sky.com/story/us-shoots-do ... t-12803499

[colp]

https://twitter.com/i/status/1621980058897317888

[Eagle130]

Perhaps KC-135 [AE0363] 60-0341 as ABATE98 was involved with the incident as the tanker. It was operating under a WTCP mission code and callsign aligns with a KC10 from earlier in the week that supported the Nellis F22s

Seems plausible that it would have been an F22 (or a few) out from Langley involved. Would be interested if anyone has any thoughts what missile might have been used for this? I was guessing AIM120 D but the explosion from the video seemed quite subdued, maybe altitude related but not sure!

[garyscott]

Doubtful they expended a -120, I’m going to say -9x. There is another video showing the aircraft approaching and a launch from within 3 miles (estimated). On that twitter link, it’s the video below the main video.

[colp]

"An F-22 jet fighter engaged the high-altitude balloon with one missile - an AIM-9X Sidewinder - and it went down about six nautical miles off the US coast at 14:39 EST (19:39 GMT), a defence official told reporters."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-64524105

[scottoz8]

how on earth was it allowed to enter Canadian airspace, float though it, then enter US airspace ???????

[jamesg23]

Would this be classed as the highest altitude air to air kill recorded outside of any training?

[Eagle130]

"An F-22 jet fighter engaged the high-altitude balloon with one missile - an AIM-9X Sidewinder - and it went down about six nautical miles off the US coast at 14:39 EST (19:39 GMT), a defence official told reporters."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-64524105

There’s the answer then, thank you! And thanks Gary too!