[Worldseries27]

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.

the answer to your question is they did not want to demonstrate their airborne laser systems for the sake of 400g. A pittance by any military standard of valuation.