Quote:
Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive
Off the top of my head...I'd say...first, you have to get there. Balloons can fly in excess of 170,000 feet. Weather balloons (such as what these chinese gasbags are reported to be) regularly fly in the neighborhood of 100,000 feet. In contrast, the SR-71 Blackbird, America's high-flying spy plane (no longer in service) flew at about 85,000 feet. In other words, you'd be burning a whole lot of Jet fuel to get within maybe three miles of the thing, and then have to shoot a projectile accurately from a vehicle moving at probably well over the speed of sound, to hit the balloon.
Bottom line: missiles are MUCH cheaper. And more accurate.
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This balloon was at 60000 feet, not a problem getting to it. I suspect they used a missile to be sure it came down in American waters. Shooting holes in it and hoping for a slow descent might have put the balloon outside of our waters. Just a guess.