Chinese reconnaissance balloon spotted over the United States

[blantonl]

Interesting news hitting, there are reports that there is a Chinese reconnaissance balloon currently floating over the United States. The WSJ reports that the US government "acted immediately to protect the collection of sensitive information" - which presumably means they are jamming it or otherwise implementing some countermeasures to prevent the balloon from collecting or sending info.

Anyone know where it currently is? It was spotted by a commercial airliner this week.

Reports also indicate that President Biden ordered it to be shot down, however the military was concerned about potential casualites on the ground if they did so.

So, amateur ELINT sleuths, any idea where this balloon currently is? We might start looking by checking ADS-B for interesting military aircraft activity, possibly any new TFRs in place where some specialized military aircraft operations may be occuring.

 

[prcguy]

The balloon entered Montana through Canada a few days ago. You might be able to find high altitude wind data over the last few days to see where it might be headed then a plane spotting app targeting mil aircraft to find a hot spot.

 

[vagrant]

Last I read it was around Billings, MT. Additional reports noted that it came in over the Aleutian Islands then through Canada, and was last in Montana, so figure whatever tracking path. My guess is it is above 50k and I'm not finding anything identifying as a balloon at that altitude using ADS-B, not that a spy balloon would send a signal.

P.S. If anyone observes HBAL817, that's not it.

 

[drapheus]

In my area all flights where stopped, grounded, and or diverted. Orders from SLC Air control sent to Billings Air Traffic Control.

"Senior defense official confirms Chinese high-altitude balloon was seen over Montana"
From Kulr8 news website in Billings Montana.

 

[blantonl]

there are 3 KC-135's on ADS-B without callsigns all loitering between Shelby and Havre MT right now, presumably supporting assets that are doing the dirty work (jamming it, getting ready to shoot it down etc)

I think they all 3 came out of Fairchild AFB in Spokane.

Pretty remote out there, but there are a lot of ICBM missile fields in the area. I would imagine there might be some pretty good Mil-Air going on in that area.

 

[YoShep69]

The news I just saw said that F 22s were scrambled yesterday.

 

[MUTNAV]

I'd be surprised if anything more than a close flyby in afterburner couldn't take it down.

I was initially thinking of a nice high powered laser designator, but, it might take more power than that depending on the materials used.

My guess is that they are mostly gathering info from it since it might wipe all the data if collects if it descends too quickly.

A RC--135 would be an appropriate thing to have in the area, at least in my mind.

Thanks
Joel

 

[GlobalNorth]

Somewhere in the rural US, some 'good ol' boys' are planning a way to bring it down.

 

[MUTNAV]

Somewhere in the rural US, some 'good ol' boys' are planning a way to bring it down.

That would be a mistake, gather the info you can from it while its still in the air.

Thanks
Joel

 

[Treaty7]

there are 3 KC-135's on ADS-B without callsigns all loitering between Shelby and Havre MT right now, presumably supporting assets that are doing the dirty work (jamming it, getting ready to shoot it down etc)

I think they all 3 came out of Fairchild AFB in Spokane.

Pretty remote out there, but there are a lot of ICBM missile fields in the area. I would imagine there might be some pretty good Mil-Air going on in that area.

I monitor first responders and aircraft along the US Canada border from South Eastern Alberta, including counties surrounding Havre.
Its been business as usual past few days.
Better chance any military aircraft especially surveillance would come from Malmstrom airforce base near Greatfalls.

 

[PrivatelyJeff]

My guess is that they are mostly gathering info from it since it might wipe all the data if collects if it descends too quickly.

I remember watching some military show a long while ago that showed a way to pickup downed pilots by having a pilot inflate a balloon with helium and use a cable attached to a harness on them to raise the balloon up and using a aircraft with a “V” shaped attachment on the front that would fly over and snag the pilot and lift them in the air. You could probably use a similarly equipped aircraft to do the same with the balloon.

 

[trentbob]

I saw SAM 173, 737 going over Billings, Montana at 19:15. Anybody know what that is?

I was just wondering if this special air Mission had anything to do with the balloon?

 

[TexScan780D]

At this time 19:00, I am not seeing any military aircraft in Montana on ADS-B Exchange. There are 2 at Spokane.

 

[Twister_2]

What reconnaissance can a balloon collect that satellites can't? Other than weather data

 

[tomcat2702]

It's a message, it's not going to get any sensitive data.

 

[Twister_2]

Modern day Sputnik

 

[prcguy]

Really good detailed pictures for one thing and for a lot less than a spy satellite.

What reconnaissance can a balloon collect that satellites can't? Other than weather data

 

[drapheus]

Really good detailed pictures for one thing and for a lot less than a spy satellite.

Possibly radio signals with antennas pointed at the ground.

 

[blantonl]

View attachment 135632

I saw SAM 173, 737 going over Billings, Montana at 19:15. Anybody know what that is?

I was just wondering if this special air Mission had anything to do with the balloon?

I think that is the SecDef returning from the Philippines. He probably flew by to check it out

 

[blantonl]

What reconnaissance can a balloon collect that satellites can't? Other than weather data

radio signals… and it can loiter in the area for long periods of time vs. orbiting past.