American Tech Discovered on Chinese Spy Balloon | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-07.07.25

Airborne-NextGen-07.08.25

AirborneUnlimited-06.25.25

Airborne-AffordableFlyers-06.26.25

AirborneUnlimited-06.27.25

Thu, Feb 13, 2025

American Tech Discovered on Chinese Spy Balloon

Balloon Carrying Gear From 5 US Firms Found Was Shot Down in 2023

A new report revealed that a Chinese spy balloon that soared across the midwest in 2023 was loaded with technology from at least five American companies. The 200-foot-tall balloon was first spotted over Alaska before being shot down by an F-22 in South Carolina.

The balloon, which Beijing insisted was a "civilian weather balloon," was actually packed with surveillance equipment, including a satellite communication module, sensors, and other advanced technology. Some of this high-tech espionage gear was housed in a foam cooler.

More than a year later, agencies have confirmed that the tech recovered from the balloon included parts from five U.S. companies: Iridium, Texas Instruments, Omega Engineering, Amphenol All Sensors Corp., and Onsemi. Equipment from Switzerland’s STMicroelectronics was also identified.

Among the recovered components was an Iridium 9602 short-burst messaging module designed for satellite communications. This handy little device would have allowed Chinese operators to communicate with the balloon and transmit data back to China.

"There's no way for us to know what the use is of a specific module," explained Iridium Executive Director for Communications, Jordan Hassim. "We need to know the module specifically. For us, it could be a whale wearing a tag tracking it, it could be a polar bear, an explorer hiking a mountain."

Unfortunately, in this case, it was a Chinese surveillance balloon floating across U.S. airspace.

The 200-foot-tall balloon, which entered U.S. airspace through Alaska and traveled across the Midwest before being shot down by an F-22 on February 4, 2023, may not have provided China with groundbreaking intelligence. But it did highlight a glaring issue: American technology continues to power China’s surveillance efforts despite years of attempts to stop it.

FMI: www.iridium.com

Advertisement

More News

Airborne 06.30.25: US v ADS-B Misuse, Nat’l STOL Fire, Volocopter Resumes

Also: Netherlands Donates 18 F16s, 2 737s Collide On Ramp, E-7 Wedgetail Cut, AgEagle's 100th In S Korea The Pilot and Aircraft Privacy Act was introduced in the House by Represent>[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (07.06.25)

“This delivery represents more than just a milestone. It symbolizes our shared commitment to national security and our unwavering support for the men and women who serve on t>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (07.06.25)

Aero Linx: Vintage Wings of Canada Foundation Vintage Wings of Canada is a not-for-profit, charitable organization with a collection of historically significant aircraft and is run>[...]

Classic Aero-TV: Portrait of the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation

From 2023 (YouTube Edition): To Preserve and Teach Incorporated as a non-profit domestic corporation in June 1997, the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation (AAHF) is a one-of-a-kind, >[...]

Airborne-NextGen 07.01.25: Volocopter Returns, B23 Energic, Iran Tech In UAVs?

Also: Air Taxis May Be Close, AgEagle Sells 100th, VAI Likes Bedford, AURA AERO Cleans Up Volocopter has resumed work towards the certification of its VoloCity eVTOL, this time und>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC