Defense Ministry explains how US shot down China’s ‘spy balloon’
China’s ‘spy balloon’ or suspected spy balloon has been dropped by an American F-22 fighter jet near the Atlantic coast of South Carolina. After this, US President Joe Biden has congratulated the pilots.
Regarding the dropping of the ‘Chinese balloon’ seen in the sky of America, US Defense Minister Lloyd Austin told that the order to drop it was given by the country’s President Joe Biden.
He issued a statement saying that on Saturday afternoon, a fighter plane of the US Northern Command successfully shot down a high-altitude surveillance ‘spy balloon’ sent by China. It was a Chinese balloon and its debris has fallen in the sea near South Carolina.
Lloyd Austin said that on Wednesday, President Joe Biden had ordered that the mission to destroy this surveillance balloon be started as soon as possible without harming any American citizen.
After this, the situation was carefully analyzed and it was decided that when this balloon would be above the ground, then dropping it could cause undue danger to the people because of its large size and surveillance payload.
Following the orders of the President, the Ministry of Defense decided that this balloon will be dropped when it is in the sea, and for this the balloon will be fully monitored and all information related to it will be gathered.
help from canada
According to Lloyd Austin’s statement, he got full support of the Canadian government in this work.
Canada helped the US military through the NORAD system (North American Aerospace Defense Command) for tracking and analyzing information related to the balloon while passing over North America. Lloyd Austin thanked him for this.
He said that this action taken within the ambit of the law shows that President Biden and his national security team will keep the interests of the country’s citizens paramount in countering China’s move that violates the country’s sovereignty.
how the sugar balloon was dropped
The US Defense Ministry issued a statement saying that on January 28, this Chinese balloon was seen in the sky near Elutiel Island in US airspace.
There is no military threat from this balloon. Despite this, this intrusion into American airspace during the last few days is a violation of American sovereignty, which cannot be accepted. The US official said that the US has crossed the island at least three times during the rule of previous governments.
This balloon first entered Idaho (American airspace) via Alaska and Canada. After which on Wednesday, President Biden ordered the army to destroy it.
Once the balloon was over the ocean, an F-22 Raptor fighter jet from the First Fighter Wing at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia took off to destroy it. This aircraft targeted with AIM-9X Sidewinder missile.
Giving more information about this in a press conference, the Ministry of Defense said that the F-22 aircraft of the army targeted the balloon at an altitude of 58 thousand feet. This balloon itself was flying at an altitude of 60 to 65 thousand feet.
When targeted by the aircraft, this balloon fell into the sea 47 feet deep, six miles away from the coast. Although it has not hurt anyone.
It was said by the ministry that this aircraft was supported by F-15s flown from Barnes Air National Guard Base in Massachusetts. Tankers were getting help from many places.
Troops were also deployed from places like Oregon, Montana, Massachusetts, South Carolina, North Carolina.
Many marine fleets were also ready for this operation. These include US Navy ships like Oscar Austin, Philippine Sea, USS Carter Hall.
What was the reaction of China
China denies it was a spy aircraft, saying it was a weather forecasting balloon that lost its way.
China’s Foreign Ministry strongly objected to this and said that “we oppose the US use of force on unmanned balloons used for civilian purposes.”
