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Source: This post is created based on the article “U.S. shot down a Chinese ‘spy’ balloon”, published in The Hindu on 8th Feb 2023.
Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3 – Science and Technology – Defence Technologies
Read more- Advantages of Spy balloons over spy satellites
On Jan 28, defence and military officials confirmed that a Chinese reconnaissance balloon has entered the US air defence zone.
Soon the balloon was shot down by a short-range AIM-9X Sidewinder missile of US.
What are spy balloons?
Spy balloons are high-altitude surveillance tools. They usually operate at 80,000-1,20,000 feet to gather intelligence. This height is well above the altitude of commercial aircraft.
These spy balloons are equipped with cameras and imaging devices.
Unlike satellites, balloons are economically viable. Due to their proximity to the Earth’s surface, they can widely scan an area from close quarters and capture clearer, high-resolution images of the target.
