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A comment on Pentagon Declines to Answer If It Shot Down $12 Balloon with $400k Missile. Parent comment

Re:Pentagon Declines to Answer If It Shot Down $12 Balloon w... by shitlord on Sunday February 19, 2023 @08:56PM (#34864104)
Was there a more cost effective way to shoot down the balloon? Is there any actual competition in the missile industry?

I read the story about the F-18 shooting down a balloon with its gun, but it's also expensive to fly and maintain such a jet.

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Re:Pentagon Declines to Answer If It Shot Down $12 Balloon w... by jtsiskin on Sunday February 19, 2023 @08:59PM (#34864125)
…not shooting it down in the first place.
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Re:Pentagon Declines to Answer If It Shot Down $12 Balloon w... by shitlord on Sunday February 19, 2023 @09:11PM (#34864184)
If a balloon really is operated by someone attempting to spy on sensitive military installations, it makes financial sense to shoot it down. It's cheaper to spend 400k on a missile than to have your adversary learn something they shouldn't.
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