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Look Up! Chinese Spy Balloon overhead

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  • General Zod

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    I know but they gave it a F instead of an A so went with it. Likewise the A-10 cannon is for ground but could be used for air.

    If I recall, there was at least one helicopter kill by an A-10 during Desert Storm using the gun. They also typically include a couple of AIM-9s in the loadout just in case.
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    toddnjoyce

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    You have to wonder if one of our Generals called his counterpart in China to warn them we were actually going to shoot it down....kinda like the heads up they did under Trump............

    Likely.

    Also likely the cat would have stayed in the bag had a couple of lucky stargazers not snapped pics that went viral.

    I seriously wonder if the public at large is unaware of China’s spy satellite capability.

    Part of their Yaofen constellation:


    And Gaofen


    Which is why I feel the tail wagged the dog.
     

    kbaxter60

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    oldag

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    The AIM-9X (the current variant, and the type used on the balloon) has a two-axis thrust vectoring engine nozzle - which would help with the thin air at altitude. This particular shot was several thousand feet above the previously published performance envelope for the missile, which is why a lot of people were suprised.

    As for it being the "most effective"...it's at least the most effective short-to-medium range AAM. Luckily it's max range easily overlaps the AMRAAM's minimum range, which extends the fighter's reach nicely.
    It has the highest kill ratio of any air to air missile, including AMRAAM.

    Of course different missiles have different ranges. Phoenix was over 100 miles.
     
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    oldag

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    AIM-9's have had some pretty amazing seeker capabilities since at least the late 80s when they were able to go from "chase the hottest heat source" to "identify an object by its heat signature, even against a hot background". The altitude capability, though, wasn't widely known.

    The most glaring thing the Chinese were allowed to learn is how complacent our 'government' under the Dementia Patient In Chief is about intrusions into our airpsace.
    The AIM-9R seeker could "flip" and if facing into the sun could look for the dark spot (relatively speaking) in the sky.
     

    Renegade

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    What a 9X-1 seeker sees

    FoJxoD0X0AEpPhC.png
     

    Renegade

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    149th FS, a VA ANG unit got the mission. They’ve already got a morale patch done up.




    They used Frank 01 as the callsign for the flight, as an homage to Frank Luke, well known balloon popper.

    That started out as a meme wrt to Eddie Gallagher.

    FRANK01 & FRANK02 for each of the F-22s. F-22 voice calling the Fox-2 and Splash was on twitter too.

    Here is the refuel track:
    FoJH2UCagAAMlGF.jpg
     

    General Zod

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    It has the highest kill ratio of any air to air missile, including AMRAAM.

    Of course different missiles have different ranges. Phoenix was over 100 miles.

    Well, it's also pretty much the one in longest continuous service with a whole bunch of air forces...but yeah. It's a hell of a piece of technology.
     
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