The Secretary of Defence Lloyd J. Austin III confirmed in a written statement that a “U.S. Air Force fighter shot down a Chinese balloon which was being used by the PRC in an attempt to surveil strategic sites in the continental United States. This action was taken in coordination, and with the full support, of the Canadian government. And we thank Canada for its contribution to tracking and analysis of the balloon through NORAD as it transited through North America.”
President Joe Biden said he had issued an order on Wednesday, but the Pentagon had delayed the order citing the safeguard of civilians from debris crashing to earth from thousands of feet(meters) above commercial air traffic. The Defence authorities told the media that debris landed approximately six miles off the coast in about 47 feet of water.
According to the officials, though the balloon did not pose any military or physical threat, still its considered as an intrusion into American airspace was an unacceptable violation of U.S. sovereignty.
The search operations are being carried by military by involving U.S. Navy and Cost Guard vessels to collect debris. As of now there is no estimate for how long the search operation will take, but considering the perimeter of search, it should be “fairly easy”.
In a statement of few hours later, the Chinese foreign ministry said “ The Chinese side has repeatedly informed the US side after verification that the airship is for civilian use and entered the US due to force majeure – it was completely an accident.”
High altitude surveillance balloons
High altitude surveillance balloons are unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that are designed to fly at high altitudes, typically above 60,000 feet. They are used for a variety of purposes, including telecommunications, weather monitoring, scientific research, and military surveillance.
These balloons are usually made of lightweight materials, such as polyethylene or mylar, and are filled with lighter-than-air gases, such as helium or hydrogen, to achieve lift. They are equipped with various sensors and instruments, such as cameras, radars, and communications equipment, to perform their designated tasks.
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