[ryan robertson]

WE’RE LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE CHINESE SPY BALLOON THAT CROSSED THE U.S. BACK IN 2023—LIKE WHAT IT WAS CARRYING AND WHY OFFICIALS WERE CONCERNED ENOUGH TO SHOOT IT DOWN…EVENTUALLY.
A NEW MILITARY ANALYSIS SAYS THE BALLOON WASN’T JUST A SURVEILLANCE TOOL—IT CARRIED AMERICAN-MADE TECHNOLOGY FROM AT LEAST FIVE U.S COMPANIES. NOW, QUESTIONS ARE MOUNTING ABOUT HOW SENSITIVE U.S. COMPONENTS WOUND UP IN FOREIGN HANDS.

THE BALLOON WAS SHOT DOWN OFF THE SOUTH CAROLINA COAST ON FEB. 4. IT HAD A SATELLITE MODULE AND OTHER SENSORS TO GATHER INTELLIGENCE,
BEIJING CLAIMED IT WAS A WEATHER BALLOON BLOWN OFF COURSE. BUT U.S. OFFICIALS SAY IT WAS EQUIPPED TO COLLECT AND TRANSMIT DATA, INCLUDING A COMMUNICATIONS MODULE USED FOR SATELLITE TRANSMISSIONS.

MILITARY ANALYSTS SAY THE BALLOON MAY HAVE HAD EMPTY STORAGE BAYS DESIGNED FOR LAUNCHABLE GLIDERS, WHICH COULD GATHER MORE DETAILED INTELLIGENCE. THE NATIONAL AIR AND SPACE INTELLIGENCE CENTER EXAMINED THE RECOVERED COMPONENTS, BUT OFFICIALS ARE NOT DISCLOSING ALL THEIR FINDINGS.

THE BALLOON’S TECHNOLOGY MATCHED A 2022 CHINESE PATENT FROM RESEARCHERS WITH MILITARY TIES. IT INCLUDED AN IRIDIUMSHORT-BURST MESSAGING MODULE, MADE BY A U.S. COMPANY THAT SUPPLIES SATELLITE COMMUNICATION DEVICES WORLDWIDE.

ACCORDING TO REPORTING FROM NEWSWEEK–
VIRGINIA-BASED IRIDIUM, DIDN’T KNOW ITS TECHNOLOGY WAS USED IN THE BALLOON. ITS PRODUCTS ARE AVAILABLE COMMERCIALLY, MAKING THEM DIFFICULT TO TRACK. OTHER U.S. COMPANIES LINKED TO THE BALLOON INCLUDE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS, OMEGA ENGINEERING AND AMPHENOL ALL SENSORS CORPORATION. SOME FIRMS SAY THEY FOLLOWED EXPORT LAWS BUT HAD NO CONTROL OVER HOW THEIR PRODUCTS WERE USED.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION SAYS THE BALLOON WAS PART OF A CHINESE SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM — SIMILAR INCIDENTS WERE REPORTED IN OTHER COUNTRIES.

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