Re:US aircraft shoots down new airborne object over Canada
by dirtyid on Saturday February 11, 2023 @06:31PM
(#34757593)
You could but confirming US has that capability is significant. The purpose is to gather intelligence after all.
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Re:US aircraft shoots down new airborne object over Canada
by jjtheblunt on Saturday February 11, 2023 @07:15PM
(#34757940)
Considering the lunar ranging experiment of fifty years ago, it seems like it shouldn’t be some big surprise?
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_Laser_Ranging_experime...
Re:US aircraft shoots down new airborne object over Canada
by CameronNemo on Sunday February 12, 2023 @01:01PM
(#34765061)
Not feasible to cover CONUS with network of ground based laser for forseeable future.
It is also not feasible to keep using million dollar missiles to shoot down thousand dollar balloons.
I kind of doubt that the planes are cheaper than ground based lasers. Even so, a mobile ground station could avoid giving away the US position and allow them to cover more area. Not sure how feasible that is.
Re:US aircraft shoots down new airborne object over Canada
by dirtyid on Sunday February 12, 2023 @04:14PM
(#34767042)
Even if eventually technically feasible, imo it will take multi decades to acquire finish program and acqure platforms in sufficient numbers. Missiles feasible short term because there's airframes and stockpiles. It's a function of what's available. I think PRC can mass weaponize balloons to drope guided munitions much sooner than US can build up economic counter measures. Silly as meme is, balloon gap might eventually be real.