State Department source says spy plane images reveal the downed craft was equipped with solar panels large enough to generate the power required to operate multiple active sensors
Images from U2 spy planes showed that the Chinese ballooni who flew over the USA last week was clearly equipped to collect intelligence rather than weather data, a US official said on Thursday, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Detailed images taken by U2 at high altitude showed that the balloon’s equipment “was clearly for intelligence surveillance and inconsistent with weather balloon equipment,” the senior State Department official said.
“It had multiple antennas to include an array possibly capable of collecting and locating geographic communications,” the official said.
“It was equipped with solar panels large enough to generate the power required to operate multiple active intelligence-gathering sensors,” the official said.
A US fighter jet shot down the hot air balloon over the Atlantic on Saturday after crossing much of the country, flying over areas where the US keeps nuclear missiles in underground silos and bases its strategic bombers.
The incident led US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken to cancel an upcoming trip to Beijing aimed at improving communications between the rival superpowers.
The official said the US believed the balloon was under the control of China’s People’s Liberation Army and was part of a fleet of balloons China had sent to more than 40 countries on five continents to gather intelligence.
“We are confident that the balloon manufacturer has a direct link with China’s military,” the official said.
The official said the US is weighing action against Chinese entities linked to the balloon’s operation, suggesting it may target them with sanctions.
Earlier, Beijing confirmed it had declined a phone call Saturday from US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on the balloon issue.
“This irresponsible and seriously flawed approach by the US has not created an appropriate atmosphere for dialogue and exchanges between the two militaries,” China’s defense ministry said in a statement.
US operations continue to recover debris from the hot air balloon just off the coast of the eastern state of South Carolina.
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With a wealth of experience honed over 4+ years in journalism, I bring a seasoned voice to the world of news. Currently, I work as a freelance writer and editor, always seeking new opportunities to tell compelling stories in the field of world news.
