By Brandon Smith
My home state of Montana was recently featured in news feeds this week as the first to observe and identify what the US Air Force says is a Chinese spy balloon. The Chinese claim it is a civilian weather apparatus that was blown off course and they expressed “regret” for the event, but the equipment visible in photographs suggests that this is a lie. Beyond that, another similar balloon has been spotted over Latin America – One wayward high tech Chinese balloon might be believable, but two is not a coincidence.
There are numerous theories as to why such a surveillance platform would be used by the CCP and what it is designed to look for, and I thought I would offer a couple theories based on my years of study into similar projects pursued by the US Department of Defense and DARPA.
First, the immediate question is why the Biden Administration has not destroyed the balloon? Why not shoot first and ask questions later? Well, Biden’s silence on this issue suggests he either has no answers or that the truth will make the American public very angry. The most likely reason it has not been shot down is because it is very difficult to shoot down.
High altitude balloons travel at 80,000 to 120,000 feet. The average fighter jet can hit altitudes of 65,000 feet and new generation drones can climb to 50,000 feet. These balloons also emit little to no heat signature, which makes them very difficult to target using missiles. If laser technology exists that has such a range, the US military is not talking about it. It might actually be easier to shoot down a Chinese satellite than one of these balloons.
Is there a way? It could be done perhaps with a missile using a large fragmentation-type warhead, but the White House does not seem too interested in exploring options at this time.
[EDITOR’S NOTE: It appears the balloon has finally been shot down, but only after the device crossed the entire country – Whatever data the platform was meant to collect, China likely has it now].
Another explanation is that the DoD is waiting to see what these balloons do. This is where I would present a few theories as to their purpose. Here is what I think is most likely given the progress of spy balloon technology right now…
Chinese ALTA Balloon Program
For a few years now DARPA has been playing with a concept for high altitude surveillance balloons using a technology called “Strat-OAWL.” Balloons have been fielded for centuries as surveillance weapons, but unpredictable wind and atmospheric changes push the balloons around, making them useless within a coupe of days for any specific region.
To break it down simply, Strat-OAWL is the experimental use of lasers to read wind speed and direction far ahead of a balloon. The balloon then uses that data to increase or decrease altitude to ride airstreams in whatever directing the military wants the balloon to go. This could allow increased navigational control, but the Holy Grail that DARPA seeks is a high alt balloon that can stay in one place indefinitely.
I find this idea impractical, like most DARPA projects, if only because wind currents can change faster than any balloon can adjust altitude, but I do see the potential uses here. The Chinese could unleash hundreds of high flying spy balloons with similar capabilities to spy satellites at a fraction of the cost and with less risk of destruction by enemy fire. The CCP may be attempting to test their own version of the DARPA directional balloon tech, while also waiting to see if the US has the means to shoot down the devices.
Lidar Observation From A Balloon Platform
The Chinese have been messing with lidar technology a lot lately. Lidar uses pulsed lasers to measure small variations in terrain to uncover hidden shapes and structures. It also has a knack for cutting through forest canopy and other obstructions. The problem with lidar is that the platforms commonly used to carry the apparatus are faster moving and only capture a snapshot in time. Also, it cannot see through thick clouds, dust, rain, snow or fog.
NASA and DARPA have both been testing lidar from balloons as a means to keep the lasers in the sky longer above a specific area. The Chinese balloon also looks somewhat similar to the equipment used on European lidar balloon experiments.
A lidar based spy balloon would explain Chinese interest in Eastern Montana, where there are numerous known nuclear missile silos as well as suspected hidden silos. The Chinese balloon did in fact come near at least one known nuclear missile base near Billings. Lidar could be exploited to find hidden bases in the region.
Multispectral Imaging
Much like Lidar, multispectral imaging tech is highly dependent on the platform that it is mounted on. MI is used to measure wavelengths of light that are not visible to the human eye and it is tested in many scientific applications. However, there are military applications, including using MI to discover hidden variations in terrain that do not match the surrounding environment. In other words, its meant to sniff out camouflaged buildings, vehicles, fighting positions, etc.
China launched two satellites for multispectral imaging in 2019 and may now be trying to test the same equipment on balloons. It’s hard to say if they are looking for a unique target, or if they are just establishing baseline image maps to be used in the future for…who knows?
Weapons Delivery Platform
High altitude balloons are cheap and relatively effective surveillance platforms that can be used much like satellites but, with the right equipment, could become far more maneuverable. With the CCP’s limited resources it makes sense that they would be utilizing low-cost and low visibility measures instead of expensive and easier to target long range drones or spy planes.
However, these systems are not just useful for observation – They can also be used to deliver weapons packages, including EMP weapons, nuclear weapons and biological agents. The US has been testing balloons for nuclear delivery ever since Operation Yucca in 1956.
In the event of war between China and the US, the CCP may be looking for a way to strike with weapons of mass destruction with a passive delivery system that’s hard to defend against.
The end goal is difficult to figure out. No doubt, the Chinese expect conflict with the US in the near future. The surveillance may be in preparation for an invasion of Taiwan in the near term (next couple years). Or, the entire circus may just be designed to see how America reacts. So far, the Biden White House has done nothing and has said nothing.
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Interesting isn’t it that this happened right around the same time when a Military official mentioned that “we will be at war with China in 2025”. Is it possible that China was also sending a calling card to the US and the world?
Could be that the US got caught sending a similar balloon over China and are using the democrat/liberal/globalist trick of accusing others of what you are doing. I mean, it’s still there now so how would we even know if it was Chinese or from Mars?
China is not at war with the American people, but the globalist and their government most certainly are. I would bet the purpose is more along the lines of a psyop against the American people than a threat from China.
The Chinese are communist scum and work directly with the globalists through the IMF, so I’m not going to give them the benefit of the doubt. China is a useful tool for the globalists. Also, that’s not how balloons work. You can’t send them against the natural air currents of the Earth towards China unless you send them East past Europe first. Also, the markings on the balloon are Chinese, and the Chinese already DECLARED THE BALLOON IS THEIRS. Please pay attention.
I am interested in the phone video taken by Dolly Moore of a possible explosion over Billings. I don’t think she’s faking it & there are two large flashes right together. Also I just read there is a balloon over North Carolina & we “might shoot it down.” What is happening?
It looks like they finally shot it down – They just decided to wait until there was a public outcry and until the device crossed the entire country.
This was a very visible “fat finger” response to US Navy vessels sailing past the Spratly Islands. Grandstanding visits to Taiwan from washed up Congress critters also weighed in.
The balloon floated leisurely over NORAD and other Classified installations, then across highly populated areas (as outlined on page 23 of the CISA_EMP Protection Guidelines handbook,) and finally out to sea. No “shoot down to see what’s in here” sign needed. Folks in our $80 Billion dollar a year defense industry got the message.
I agree. Can you imagine the damage just a dozen of these devices could do with EMP weapons or nukes at around 80,000 feet? Consider a hundred high alt balloons, some with weapons and some as decoys? At the very least, our primary electrical grids would be fried for a year or more while they try to assess and repair the damage. Total economic collapse would be the result. I don’t even consider an EMP event to be a top concern, but the fact that these platforms have been able to sail unopposed across the entire country including Alaska suggests a serious danger.
I first saw this at the pro–communist site, zerohedge (and yes, since a change in ownership over a year ago, they banned over a thousand of us anticommunist commenters); endless simpleton comments there blaming this on Israel or in a similar vein?!
At this excellente site link below, we see this has been going on for at least several years and essentially Xi Jinping owns North American airspace, the same way he owns the White House —- most depressing!
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1621632233168830465.html
IIRC, wasn’t ZH bought out by ABC?
Not the same ABC as the network. It’s an independent company.
“My home state of Montana was recently featured in news feeds this week as the first to observe and identify what the US Air Force says is a Chinese spy balloon.”
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If Russia or Iran or North Korea had floated a balloon over ‘The Indispensable Nation’ the way that ‘That Big Eastern Power’ just did… American State Corporate Media would be freaking out and hyperventilating right now that we are all in terrible peril and that Resident Biden just has to do something about it and pronto. And that ‘something’ would be doing that horrendous thing that will finish most all of life on Planet Earth.
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But when That Big Eastern Power floats a big gas bag… it’s treated by The Woke United States Incorporated Nation and Resident Gasbag Biden more like an odd curiosity and not really all that big of a deal so to avoid his own personal and political embarrassment.
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What’s the difference between these two scenarios? You don’t criticize those who Own You. In other words, your bosses. One of those Nations owns America, and the other ones don’t.
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What, you say? America is not owned by That Big Eastern Power! Really? Remember a couple years ago when an NBA executive publicly criticized That Big Eastern One and caught unholy hell for doing so? And the rest of the NBA went on to kiss and kiss and kiss the hind quarters of That Big Eastern Power and apologize profusely. And there are many other incidents just like this one in other areas of ‘American’ (?) Life to prove the point.
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“The end goal is difficult to figure out.”
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The end goal is trolling of Resident Biden and the rest of America. Making America look weak and foolish. Floating one gas bag high over the head of another Gas Bag.
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And in the words of another historical figure of shame… ‘Mission Accomplished’.
China’s Foreign Ministry sounds VERY upset that their “wayward weather satellite” was finally shot down. If their claims are true, why would they care?
http://eu.china-mission.gov.cn/eng/mhs/202302/t20230205_11019871.htm
It’s possible the data gathered was stored on board and not transmitted. Possibly because it was gathering too much, too fast to transmit constantly, or because the data transmission could have been jammed. So they counted on recovering the data later, and now won’t.
Possibly, though it would be nearly impossible to jam a high altitude moving target like that balloon for three days at all times. If it used direct link such as laser link (LCRD) to a ground receiver then it would just need a second to download. I suspect they got most of the data they wanted. I think the CCP is more angry that a precedent has been set that their devices could be destroyed. Biden may have been planning to let these things cross the US quietly but the public outcry forced his hand and he had to at least pretend to take action. Another issue to consider is that they were only able to shoot down the balloon after it dropped below 60,000 feet. People may be falsely led to believe it is easy to shoot these devices down. At 80,000 to 120,000 feet they are very difficult to attack.
We should be careful of viewing everything as a distraction, but this seems like a cover for something else. Any advances on CBDCs this week? Or did something surface in the horrible economy that just can’t be hidden any longer? Any other big news events that got buried by this story?
Makes me wonder.
There’s nothing going on that has not been going on for weeks or months anyway, so it’s hard to see how it’s a distraction.
Hard to see it’s a distraction? With a State of the Union speech coming up? And all the Debt Ceiling smoke-and-mirrors?
Why would the Chinese want to distract from the State of the Union or the Debt Ceiling issue? You are grasping at straws to make this event into something it’s not.
Not saying that some of the points in this article aren’t valid. But something about this entire event just still rubs me the wrong way. Nothing happens by chance. The mainstream media is breathlessly reporting on this, which means that they likely have received their marching orders to hype it up to generate fear and anxiety among the general public. And it’s working. I’m just kind of surprised that quite a few alternative thinkers and independent journalists seem caught up in the hype and fear as well.
No one reported on the balloon until millions of Americans saw it and raised hell about it. Then suddenly it became an important issue. If you did your research on these devices then you would know they are not to be taken lightly. I’m surprised by how many people are gullible enough to dismiss this event as being nothing of concern.
Thank you for this article Brandon, the balloons are 4 the celebration of the chinese new year 🙂
BALLOONGATE Should Result in Bidens Immediate Removal From Office
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ng7jR118r4A
The Chinese have satellites with 10-cm resolution as well as hypersonic missiles and drones. It makes no sense why they’d risk escalation for some balloon. Also, I’m pretty sure the US is lying about when the balloon was detected. They absolutely could see it long before it entered North American airspace since they have near complete radar coverage over the Arctic and Pacific.
And no one really cares about some obsolete Minutemen silos in the middle of nowhere. US has nuclear forces in Guam and very possibly secret ones in Japan and Korea. As well as subs. Those are probably what bother the PLA more.
Most likely it was an actual weather balloon that’s been milked for all propaganda value. Or just a complete false flag. They really want to plant the idea in American minds that the PLA can and does operate deep within US airspace. Not unlike the National Commission on Terrorism releasing reports on “rising levels of international terrorism” right before 9/11…
The Chinese already claimed ownership of the apparatus, so there goes the theory that it’s a “false flag” (utter nonsense). The majority of Chinese military satellites are older and in need of re-equipping, which is very expensive for them to accomplish. Beyond that, you are ignoring 90% of the article and the numerous reasons why these balloons are useful, so, I have to question your motives. A cheap and simple operating platform which can be used for surveillance or for weapons delivery? Balloons that can be unleashed at high altitude by the hundreds for the cost of a single satellite? This is why the US military is testing balloons right now even though we also have satellites. You have no idea what nuclear facilities are hidden in states like Montana – The fact that you would assume they are “obsolete” suggests you have an agenda. Sorry, but you are clearly not entering this discussion honestly.
Thanks for this article, Brandon, it explains a lot but it might be pearls before swine. The stupidity of people who deny that these balloon systems are a danger is shocking. It seems like people are split, with maybe 1/3 of them claiming this is nothing but a “false flag”. They have no idea that these things can be used to take out our entire electrical grid region by region or even drop chemical weapons. It’s not something to be taken lightly. Plus, the CCP communists work with the banking elites. The globalists can’t stage a war without their help and that seems to be what they’re doing right now.
Yes, i think the definition of “false flag” has become so misunderstood that certain people in the liberty movement use it all the time as an explanation for everything. Every shooting, every geopolitical scuffle, everything is suddenly a “false flag.” The bottom line is that the Chinese are friends with the globalists and they are a hostile force that the globalists can exploit to attack the American citizenry. Anyone that refuses to acknowledge this is either ignorant or not to be trusted. The government does not need to frame the CCP for anything, because the CCP are willingly colluding with the Great Reset. I suspect the balloons are mainly being tested for predictable maneuverability, but in preparation for eventual use as weapons delivery platforms and surveillance in hostilities against the American people. In other words, Pearl Harbor 2.0
First of all thank you for your work. Your analysis are always spot on, subtitle and honest.
As French Algerian, I feel your fight for true liberty movement and i have been convinced by most of your views and prospectives since I “met” your work.
It seems clear to me that globalists have chosen China as “new” weapon against their “old” weapon, the only thing that don’t vary is that it is always about control of the masses in every part of human life.
Psychopaths ways…
Indeed, very strange that “incident” involving 2 chinese spy balloons in the American and South american airspaces.
Was NORAD sleeping??!
I would be not surprised about an another major false flag hitting U.S in a couple of months(worse than 9/11?). A justification in order to impose martial law?!
As we know, globalists use any means necessary to realize their sinister Agenda.
P.s: “You never want a serious crisis to go to waste. And what I mean by that is an opportunity to do things that you think you could not do before.”, Rahm Emanuel (former Obama administration’s chief of staff, and currently 31st United States Ambassador to Japan).
P.s 2:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VutE0CQziTI
Watching that Chinese balloon merrily drift over my America was like drinking Drano.
This episode is an affair to remember and with a White House peppered with a staff of prolonged adolescence, the imperial privileged, the protected affluent lazy, a transient DOD, it’s only a matter of time before China pulls the trigger. GUNG HAY FAT CHOY.
If these balloons are a retaliation for the US provocations concerning Taiwan (which I find a very credible explanation), why did the Chinese not explicitly admit so?
The Chinese follow Sun Tzu thinking – They will never admit to anything they don’t have to. Also, I’m not so sure these balloon platforms are meant as “retaliation.” Rather, I think the CCP was testing something. It’s hard to say what it was, and if the Pentagon knows they may never admit what it was either.
Brandon, I want to tell you that I think it’s really great that you reply to so many of the comments. Writers on other sites either reply sparsely or not at all. They only write articles for click bait and don’t care if people are getting a good understanding of the article or not. Other sites won’t let me comment anymore. It might be because I make comments about their writing but they don’t tell anyone why when they are banned. I think from reading your comments that you are more likely to tell people what you think about their comments and I like that. Keep writing articles and keep replying to comments. Thank you.
I try to comment when possible as long as people are trying to have a sincere discussion. If someone is trolling then I’m not going to engage in a back and forth, but beyond that it helps to have further context for the article. Sometimes you can’t explain everything you want to explain in a single piece because it will end up being ten pages long, so handling that in the comments is the next best option.
I think that It was made to show what Biden really is a CCP traitor…..
–Yes sir…EMP weapons would be perfect for balloon delivery from what I understand. Haven’t heard from JOG in some time but he would be a great resource on this I suspect. Was wondering why you hadn’t smoked that thing yet Brandon (joking). I guess they got it or at least that’s the story but who knows anymore. Its really hard to discern the truth these days.
–Wanted to respond to your comment on the last thread about Russia and China. I fully agree NOBODY is coming to save us; especially those two. Why would they? I am quite certain they will be more than content to watch our financial/power grid collapse and pass around the popcorn. I love the second amendment but 250mil armed citizens and no food/supplies will test all of our patience. When it goes down my ass is high tailing it to my brother’s who lives on a lot more land. I am surrounded by great neighbors who I know well and like but none of them are overly prepared and I have no plans to watch them starve.
–I don’t believe the Global elite could risk cutting a deal with those countries (Russia/China). Idk maybe a slight few have but once America enters the state of collapse it will be sudden and hard. These elite will have literally no leverage (no economic or military might) without Uncle Sam remaining strong. They could have all kinds of backroom deals but those agreements get shredded immediately when all hell breaks loose.
–“You want a seat at the table in the New Global South/BRICS org? Talk to the hand bitch.”
–However anything is possible I guess as these elites have lost touch with reality it seems. Like I said there may be a few families in the loop but the only thing guaranteeing their survival once SHTF is loyalty/friendship from Russia/China. Otherwise they have no leverage whatsoever aside from nuclear suicide. Even that goes away pretty quick as America goes dark.
–The right hates China and the left hates Russia. Seems like the same old 2 party bullshit to me preparing us to take on both in a military conflict as some point. That’s what makes this so dangerous. I suspect we pulled our little stunts to accelerate things in the Eastern Bloc thinking it was a surefire victory with the sanctions. Russia would fall and our fearless leaders are so talented and smart they could surely multi task by also weakening America and its military from within. This hubris is beyond anything ever recorded in the books of history. Can’t blame them I suppose; who had told these people NO lately?
–This time last year I was running around like a crazy shouting at the sky for citizens to WTFU. I do not believe that was wrong think but I will admit defeat. Unfortunately its just not going to happen. The only thing that is going to get the attention of the mob is a baseball bat to the head. That proverbial baseball bat could be any number of things (take your pick). The collapse is coming come hell or high water and there’s nothing any of us can do to stop it. Its Mother Nature’s way, not any different from a forest fire, burning off the debris to make room for the new. BTW for the people who think the elites possibly want a nuclear war to kill us off that is just nuts. Why would these enviro freaks do that when all they need to do is kill the power/grid? That being said, the risks of such are very high. An EMP attack would be the absolute worst as we won’t even be able to make use out of our last tank of gas.
–I suspect as Russia takes command (incoming) and this gets wrapped up that will be the supercharger on the state of affairs that awaits us. The Western medial will lie to us and 80%+ will eat it all up. “Putin surrenders and begs for Peace.” “Russia can no longer fight the war any longer and taps out.” There’s no reality anymore only narrative. Like I mentioned the Western Pop will gobble it right up hook, line, and sinker. However, other countries outside the Western sphere of influence will not. They will see this as the day a country finally stood up to the bully (David & Goliath) and made a stand. The Saudis motioning towards Beijing I would say the wheels are already in motion.
–Still pestering you about some sort of identifier in the rough times ahead. I don’t see any scenario that some places will be better off than others for too long. Yeah its obviously better to live in rural Montana as opposed to Chicago but I mean as far as modern conveniences. If you don’t have power or accommodations in the cities soon you won’t have it the suburbs/rural.
–Read this today from Kuntsler which contrasts the breakup of the USSR to the potential one incoming here. I know why you don’t want people to think we might get lucky and that some politician or country will pull our asses out of the fire. I agree; In fact, its single biggest problem that has gotten us into this mess.
https://kunstler.com/clusterfuck-nation/lose-lose/
Legacy Media and Bidenistas are Gaslighting Everyone on the Chinese Spy Balloon Scandal
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MKzCS7HjI_M
Rex Reviews on YouTube put out a video which basically supports my position in this article. Good commentary on the very real threat these balloon platforms represent:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vJeMrKEKOg&lc=UgyIEn-c6D1vWinOJaZ4AaABAg.9lmN-tiTcGC9lnicp13HIx
It seems to me the President and Joint Chiefs showed their allegiance by allowing the CCP balloon to travel over the whole country and collect whatever sensitive data it intended before shooting it down over the Atlantic.
Pentagon admits that the Chinese balloon “had the ability to maneuver” rather than follow air streams. Meaning, this was at the very least a confirmed spy balloon. Alt-Market is shown to be correct yet again.
https://twitter.com/newswithchris/status/1621562197112414216
Nothing happens by accident, and the media’s breathless hype about this should be a clue that it’s likely a psy-op designed to stoke public emnity toward China.
Paul Craig Roberts agrees: “But the spy story continues. It is needed in order to worsen relations with China, the second nuclear power that Washington is doing everything it possibly can to antagonize. Keep in mind that in these days spying is done by satellites, not by weather balloons. If China is using balloons to spy on the US, why did China send a balloon over Columbia. Why is China spying on South America?
Try to think of something the government has told the truth about. Tonkin Gulf? Ruby Ridge? Waco? Oklahoma City Bombing? 9/11? Saddam Hussein’s weapons of mass destruction? Assad’s use of chemical weapons? Gaddafi? Russiagate? January 6 insurrection? Covid? Covid vaccine? Ukraine? Malaysian airliner? Find one thing that was true.
All the government’s lies, parroted by the presstitutes, are designed to advance secret agendas. The people are brainwashed with lies so that they go along with the agendas. That is the way the US government functions. There is no longer an American media. Just an indoctrination ministry. Only official narratives please. All else is misinformation.”
Except that China ADMITS it’s their balloon. So, there goes the theory that it’s all a “false flag.”
How is it that we even know about this at all ? Easiest thing ever for the media not to report on.
They weren’t reporting on it and neither was the government talking about it until millions of Americans saw the platform and started demanding answers.
Do you have a speculation on the speed of the space escalation? If science (military), that is a threat, but not imminent? If getting the lay of the land possibly to compare with previous maps, more imminent?
Any which way, it’s disconcerting as is the entire world. I’m not sure I want to be responsible for America’s defense, yet I see few other options than those here at home. We seem to have let the weasels in the storeroom and it’s depleated. Time will tell.
In my home state of South Carolina, that CCP spy balloon flew through here too!
And nary a word from Governor McMaster.
Why is that?