Chinese Spy Balloon Used American Technology to Monitor U.S. Airspace, Report Reveals

[Social Media]

 

The Chinese surveillance balloon that caused alarm as it drifted across the United States two years ago was indeed designed to spy on Americans—but with an unexpected twist. According to a new report, the high-tech airship was equipped with advanced surveillance technology sourced from American companies.  

 

Moment the Chinese Spy Balloon was shot down off the Coast of South Carolina.

Moment the Chinese Spy Balloon was shot down off the Coast of South Carolina; that’s one for the History Books. pic.twitter.com/r9WkaZGCcd

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) February 4, 2023

 

Standing at 200 feet tall, the balloon was outfitted with a satellite communication module, various sensors, and other intelligence-gathering tools, with components from at least five U.S. firms. Two sources with direct knowledge of a classified U.S. military report told *Newsweek* that the recovered debris confirmed the craft's spying capabilities.  

 

The balloon's journey took it from Alaska, across Canada, and into the U.S. Midwest before it was ultimately shot down by the U.S. military off the coast of South Carolina on February 4, 2023. Analysts suspect it could have gathered vast amounts of data on unsuspecting Americans during its flight, using onboard technology capable of surveying, capturing images, and collecting other intelligence. In a particularly concerning detail, the sources indicated that the balloon might have been able to release launchable gliders for additional reconnaissance missions.  

 

The recovered equipment closely aligned with a patent granted in 2022 to researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Aerospace Information Innovation Research Institute in Beijing—a group with known ties to China’s military. The patent, titled *“A High-Altitude Balloon Safety Control and Positioning Recovery Device and Method,”* described a short-burst messaging module known as the Iridium 9602, which was also found on the balloon, *Newsweek* reported.  

 

The spy balloon was further equipped with communications systems produced by Iridium, as well as technology from four other American firms: Texas Instruments, Omega Engineering, Amphenol All Sensors Corporation, and onsemi. Additionally, at least one Swiss company contributed components to the craft. The sheer size of the aircraft—approximately 200 feet tall and weighing thousands of pounds—made it one of the most advanced aerial surveillance platforms of its kind.  

 

Even more concerning, U.S. military officials previously suggested that the balloon may have carried explosives intended for self-destruction, possibly to prevent recovery of its technology if compromised.  

 

Despite mounting evidence, Chinese officials have continued to insist that the airship was merely a civilian weather balloon that had been blown off course. However, with the newly revealed intelligence, it appears increasingly clear that the balloon was a sophisticated surveillance device operating under the guise of meteorological research.

 

Based on a report by NYP News 2025-02-13

 

 

[bokningar]

Stop Chines from attending western University's and don't let them in on any high tech research.