The Chinese spy balloon that flew above the U.S. for several days before being shot down by F-22 fighter jets was able to collect sensitive intelligence from U.S. military sites, according to a report by NBC News.
According to multiple U.S. officials, the Chinese spy balloon was able to collect electronic signals above military sites and relay the information back to the Chinese government. The electronic signals are picked up from weapons systems and communications from base personnel.
“China was able to control the balloon so it could make multiple passes over some of the sites (at times flying figure-eight formations) and transmit the information it collected back to Beijing in real time, the three officials said. The intelligence China collected was mostly from electronic signals, which can be picked up from weapons systems or include communications from base personnel, rather than images, the officials said.”
NBC News
Contrary to this report, the Pentagon has stated that they cannot confirm whether or not the real-time transmission of intelligence was successfully sent from the balloon to Beijing. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby refused to comment on what intelligence the Chinese may have obtained. The National Security Council did, however, refer to remarks made in February, in which Department of Defense (DOD) officials claimed the spy balloon had “limited additive value” to the Chinese.
The Chinese balloon was initially spotted over Alaska on January 28. After moving in and out of U.S. airspace over the following two days, the balloon was allowed to traverse across the entire continental U.S. for several days without being taken down by the U.S. military. On February 3, the United States Air Force deployed an F-22 from Langley Air Force Base to shoot it down off the coast of the Carolinas.
China had previously stated that the balloon was a weather monitoring system that merely strayed off course, and that the U.S. violated “the spirit of international law” by shooting it down. China argued that the downing of the balloon was an escalation of conflict. Following the NBC report, revealing that the balloon had successfully obtained intelligence from U.S. military bases, China has not made any further claims or statements regarding the purpose or intention of the balloon.
