American fighter jets shot down an unidentified object Friday over Alaska, U.S. officials said. President Joe Biden ordered the object to be shot down over water, spokesman John Kirby said, noting that the object was about the size of a small car, and was flying at about 40,000 feet. “It …
Read More »Chinese Spy Balloon May Have Been Able to Eavesdrop: US Official
The Chinese spy balloon that was shot down off the coast of South Carolina likely was able to collect and pinpoint American communications on the ground, a U.S. government official said on Thursday. The balloon was part of a fleet that had flown over “more than 40 countries across five …
Read More »Spy Balloon Was Launched by Chinese Army, Intel Sources Say
The Chinese spy balloon that was shot down after transiting the United States was launched by the People’s Liberation Army, an intelligence source told Soldier of Fortune. The balloon belonged to an airship fleet with a base in Hainan province on the southern coast of China, the source confirmed. The …
Read More »First Look: Efforts to Recover the Chinese Spy Balloon
First images have emerged of efforts to recover the Chinese spy balloon that was shot down in the waters off Myrtle Beach, SC. The Pentagon released these images by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Tyler Thompson, depicting sailors from Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 2. The recovery operation involves active duty, …
Read More »Chinese Spy Balloons Slipped Through ‘Domain Awareness Gap,’ Didn’t Seem Hostile, NORAD Chief Says
The U.S. did not take out the Chinese spy balloon as it approached Alaska because it showed no “hostile intent,” the NORAD commander said, noting that his organization did not detect previous balloons because of “a domain awareness gap.” Air Force Gen. Glen D. VanHerck, the top general in charge …
Read More »Salvage Crews on Lookout for Explosives and Toxic Substances From Chinese Spy Balloon
Salvage crews are taking precautions against the possible presence of explosives or toxic substances mixed in among the remnants of the downed Chinese spy balloon, military officials said. After rough seas at first thwarted efforts to recover debris from the balloon, collection efforts ramped up on Monday off the coast …
Read More »Navy Divers, FBI Join Hunt for Debris From Chinese Spy Balloon
Navy divers and FBI counterspy agents are at sea off the coast of South Carolina, hunting for debris from a downed Chinese spy balloon. The search is being carried out from three Navy ships, including the USS Carter Hall, which can launch small amphibious crafts from its internal Landing Ship …
Read More »Is Beijing’s Military a Match for US Forces?
Pentagon war games for decades have assessed how U.S. forces would fare in a conflict with China’s Peoples Liberation Army. What about now: how goes the matchup? Gone are the days when Western military analysts dismissed the capabilities of Beijing’s war machine. READ MORE about China’s military. Beijing clearly wants …
Read More »Pilots Who Shot Down Spy Airship Used Callsigns Honoring World War I ‘Balloon Buster’ Frank Luke
Pilots of the F-22 Raptors that shot down the Chinese spy balloon may have taken their callsigns from a famous World War I flying ace. The modern pilots, whose fighter jets on Saturday took off from Langley Air Force base in Virginia, used the callsigns ‘FRANK01’ and ‘FRANK02,’ in honor …
Read More »US Shoots Down Chinese Spy Balloon
The U.S. Air Force shot down a Chinese spy balloon Saturday afternoon over the Atlantic Ocean, officials said. The balloon’s sensor package appeared to have separated from the balloon intact, and is the subject of an intense recovery effort, sources told Soldier of Fortune. Earlier in the day, the Federal …
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