User Panel
User Panel
User Panel
|
Posted: 2/3/2023 2:16:04 PM EDT
[#1]
China's pretty close to Russia better nuke them too and Ukraine is corrupt so they get a nuke.
Basically Japan will end up king of Asia, of course until they get nuked |
|
|
|
Posted: 2/3/2023 2:18:22 PM EDT
[#2]
Quote HistoryQuoted: We need a Shoot The Balloon forum. Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: BALLOON THREAD!!! We need a Shoot The Balloon forum. Why is everyone assuming this is a balloon.? How do we not know that it may identify as a ........ or some such thing. My guess is a new delivery system by amazonian.....bypass shipping ports for expedite delivery to their warehouses. |
|
|
|
Posted: 2/3/2023 2:26:13 PM EDT
[#3]
Quote HistoryQuoted: How do they know it's Chinese? It's pronounced baroon. |
|
|
|
Posted: 2/3/2023 2:27:18 PM EDT
[#4]
D-21, but this is kind of what started this whole thing.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 2/3/2023 2:31:04 PM EDT
[#5]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Oh well nuke China anyways lmao Yes. |
|
|
|
Posted: 2/3/2023 2:32:54 PM EDT
[#6]
Quote HistoryQuoted: This is actually infuriating. Over an area that is lightly populated, we could easily damage/deflate the balloon portion and it would drogue chute to the ground effectively slowing the payload to the point that even if it did hit something it wouldn’t be THAT bad. Why the fuck isn’t our country immediately acting as if this is a hostile event (which it is)? This will only embolden the world as they see how big of a pussy the USA is. Legalities of shooting it down? This is unprecedented and most likely no laws covering action against it by civilians. Hell, If a normal joe or group of joes were to take it down, they’d make history. ARFCOM engineering team on standby??? |
|
|
|
Posted: 2/3/2023 2:33:38 PM EDT
[#7]
Any violation of US territory or airspace should be met with at least 30 MIRVs.
We will need a new missile which holds 15 MIRVs for each part of the triad. |
|
|
|
Posted: 2/3/2023 2:34:07 PM EDT
[#8]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I was promised 99 red balloons - not this! Damnit Nina! |
|
|
|
Posted: 2/3/2023 2:34:49 PM EDT
[#9]
Quote History |
|
|
|
Posted: 2/3/2023 2:35:18 PM EDT
[#10]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Any violation of US territory or airspace should be met with at least 30 MIRVs. We will need a new missile which holds 15 MIRVs for each part of the triad. Also yes. |
|
|
|
Posted: 2/3/2023 2:36:06 PM EDT
[#11]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Lmao. Makes sense. Otherwise we'll just give the missiles to the Ukraine. I remember reading shootings down a satellite give a "kill" credit toward ace. Why would a balloon be any different? If I was an F-15 pilot I'd love the opportunity to fire one of those |
|
|
|
Posted: 2/3/2023 2:38:21 PM EDT
[#12]
|
|
|
|
Posted: 2/3/2023 2:38:40 PM EDT
[#13]
|
|
|
|
Posted: 2/3/2023 2:49:46 PM EDT
[#14]
Quote HistoryQuoted: We can't shoot it down. We need to fill it with false information and send it back. Dick pics and Kung Flu memes |
|
|
|
Posted: 2/3/2023 2:52:25 PM EDT
[#15]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Dick pics. hundreds of huge American weiners to give them an inferiority complex.  |
|
|
|
Posted: 2/3/2023 4:13:32 PM EDT
[#16]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Balloon is somewhere between 60k and 120k. Service ceiling on the highest civilian aircraft is 51k, and most ov them can't actually reach that level except under very specific and limited conditions. Most commercial traffic is 34k to 41k. Average GA aircraft is less than 18k. We're going to have to think outside the box on this one. The older Longhorn Lear could get to 55k feet but after some issues with the pressurization on multiple aircraft types, there are few bizjets that are allowed to do that now. (And, as I recall, special training is required.) Certainly the Global Hawk could get up that high as can a U-2. But if you're talking about Arfcom resources, one of the large amateur rockets could get up that high. Hitting the balloon would be a challenge even using FPV techniques. |
|
|
|
Posted: 2/3/2023 4:16:07 PM EDT
[#17]
Quote HistoryQuoted: We have no weapon to shoot it with. https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidhambling/2023/02/03/busting-that-chinese-balloon-is-harder-than-you-think/amp/ The article ignores Thaad and Patriot capabilities. Pretty sure we have multiple military aircraft that could hit the balloon with a missile. Of course, just the missile would cost 10x-100x what the balloon cost so it might not be a good trade. |
|
|
|
Posted: 2/3/2023 4:19:10 PM EDT
[#18]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Propulsion? Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: Disable propulsion, give it a nudge into Canada and let Castro Jr. deal with it.  Propulsion? There is some speculation that because it has been able to maneuver somewhat that it may have propulsion on-board. The solar panels on there I don't think are big enough for any real propulsion that would have any real effect. |
|
|
|
Posted: 2/3/2023 4:19:21 PM EDT
[#19]
Weird double tap.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 2/3/2023 4:25:17 PM EDT
[#20]
Quote HistoryQuoted: The older Longhorn Lear could get to 55k feet but after some issues with the pressurization on multiple aircraft types, there are few bizjets that are allowed to do that now. (And, as I recall, special training is required.) Certainly the Global Hawk could get up that high as can a U-2. But if you're talking about Arfcom resources, one of the large amateur rockets could get up that high. Hitting the balloon would be a challenge even using FPV techniques. Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: Balloon is somewhere between 60k and 120k. Service ceiling on the highest civilian aircraft is 51k, and most ov them can't actually reach that level except under very specific and limited conditions. Most commercial traffic is 34k to 41k. Average GA aircraft is less than 18k. We're going to have to think outside the box on this one. The older Longhorn Lear could get to 55k feet but after some issues with the pressurization on multiple aircraft types, there are few bizjets that are allowed to do that now. (And, as I recall, special training is required.) Certainly the Global Hawk could get up that high as can a U-2. But if you're talking about Arfcom resources, one of the large amateur rockets could get up that high. Hitting the balloon would be a challenge even using FPV techniques. I bet we have a few pre-production development units of these laying about  Attached File |
|
|
|
Posted: 2/3/2023 4:29:50 PM EDT
[#21]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I bet we have a few pre-production development units of these laying about https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/21064/E79B0335-E0A9-4B5F-81E4-9CC33A9528A9_jpe-2696473.JPG Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: Quoted: Balloon is somewhere between 60k and 120k. Service ceiling on the highest civilian aircraft is 51k, and most ov them can't actually reach that level except under very specific and limited conditions. Most commercial traffic is 34k to 41k. Average GA aircraft is less than 18k. We're going to have to think outside the box on this one. The older Longhorn Lear could get to 55k feet but after some issues with the pressurization on multiple aircraft types, there are few bizjets that are allowed to do that now. (And, as I recall, special training is required.) Certainly the Global Hawk could get up that high as can a U-2. But if you're talking about Arfcom resources, one of the large amateur rockets could get up that high. Hitting the balloon would be a challenge even using FPV techniques. I bet we have a few pre-production development units of these laying about https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/21064/E79B0335-E0A9-4B5F-81E4-9CC33A9528A9_jpe-2696473.JPG That would be interesting as well. I was thinking we had some ground-based lasers that might be able to get enough energy up that high to damage the balloon envelope but not sure. Long time ago they were looking at really high-powered ground based lasers for intercepting ICBMs and warheads. Not sure they ever really got that far along on those. |
|
|
|
Posted: 2/3/2023 4:33:42 PM EDT
[#22]
50k-60k feet? I can’t imagine any of us has access to something that can hit it from the ground. You’d need a corporate jet, which you wouldn’t be able to shoot out of.
 Seriously though, is there any hand held weapon capable of hitting that high in the US arsenal? ETA: look at this crap… Chinese balloon seen over U.S. was for weather research, Beijing says |
|
|
|
Posted: 2/3/2023 4:38:14 PM EDT
[#23]
|
|
|
|
Posted: 2/3/2023 4:41:45 PM EDT
[#24]
|
|
|
|
Posted: 2/3/2023 4:45:21 PM EDT
[#25]
I'm waiting for some brave American with a small plane to take out that balloon. Just like they did with the tower shooter in Austin in the 1960s.
 
|
|
|
|
Posted: 2/3/2023 4:46:52 PM EDT
[#26]
Quoted: Allright GD, you always have all the answers, let's figure out how to shoot this damn Chinese spy balloon out of the sky. They say it is above comercial air traffic so how high would that be? It is over some of the most sparsly populated area of the US, what better time to shoot it down? The fact that this thing is still up is embarrassing as hell but our spaghetti spine gov officals will not do a thing. Before it maps all the nuke silos in ND it should be brought down in my opinion. How the hell can we knock that thing out of the sky? How illegal would it be to knock a foreign balloon out of the sky? Would our fearless penguin defend us in court? https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/413300/Fn_5eFCakAEQnj6_jpg-2695967.JPG 
|
|
|
|
Posted: 2/3/2023 4:49:42 PM EDT
[#27]
Quote HistoryQuoted: 50k-60k feet? I can't imagine any of us has access to something that can hit it from the ground. You'd need a corporate jet, which you wouldn't be able to shoot out of. Seriously though, is there any hand held weapon capable of hitting that high in the US arsenal? ETA: look at this crap Chinese balloon seen over U.S. was for weather research, Beijing says But there are certainly systems. We can hit a bullet with a bullet in orbit....I think we can hit a balloon that's half that high doing 50 knots or whatever. Is it worth it? Sure, a real world test of Aegis Ashore or THAAD or Patriot is worth it. Maybe we have the follow on to KH11 above it looking down on it and USA311 listening to whatever it's transmitting, we are just learning what we can learn. Or poopy pants found where they stash the soft serve machine and he's too busy to take any calls. |
|
|
|
Posted: 2/3/2023 4:56:57 PM EDT
[#28]
|
|
|
|
Posted: 2/3/2023 5:15:08 PM EDT
[#29]
SAC would not have let this get to this point
|
|
|
|
Posted: 2/3/2023 5:17:51 PM EDT
[#30]
Quote HistoryQuoted: That would be interesting as well. I was thinking we had some ground-based lasers that might be able to get enough energy up that high to damage the balloon envelope but not sure. Long time ago they were looking at really high-powered ground based lasers for intercepting ICBMs and warheads. Not sure they ever really got that far along on those. Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Balloon is somewhere between 60k and 120k. Service ceiling on the highest civilian aircraft is 51k, and most ov them can't actually reach that level except under very specific and limited conditions. Most commercial traffic is 34k to 41k. Average GA aircraft is less than 18k. We're going to have to think outside the box on this one. The older Longhorn Lear could get to 55k feet but after some issues with the pressurization on multiple aircraft types, there are few bizjets that are allowed to do that now. (And, as I recall, special training is required.) Certainly the Global Hawk could get up that high as can a U-2. But if you're talking about Arfcom resources, one of the large amateur rockets could get up that high. Hitting the balloon would be a challenge even using FPV techniques. I bet we have a few pre-production development units of these laying about https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/21064/E79B0335-E0A9-4B5F-81E4-9CC33A9528A9_jpe-2696473.JPG That would be interesting as well. I was thinking we had some ground-based lasers that might be able to get enough energy up that high to damage the balloon envelope but not sure. Long time ago they were looking at really high-powered ground based lasers for intercepting ICBMs and warheads. Not sure they ever really got that far along on those. There are quite a few industrial lasers with sufficient intensity to pop a balloon from 20+ miles out. They use them for cutting steel. A balloon envelope is going to take way less energy. As I mentioned in the bigger thread, a group of nerds/engineers could quickly repurpose one. Aiming it wouldn't be difficult as the laser has no ballistic trajectory to worry about (or falling/descending projectiles to worry about). All you'd need to do is ensure that the aiming device is parallel to the beam. Any offset is negligible when you're aiming at a 30+ foot diameter target. Since folks are able to capture footage of it from the ground, with cellphones and or spotting scopes, aiming a repurposed industrial laser at it wouldn't be terribly difficult. As I mentioned in that thread, you could even use one of the brighter visible lasers, mounted and aligned with the industrial laser, coupled with a high power scope. "I see the dot on the balloon. Fire" |
|
|
|
Posted: 2/3/2023 5:21:11 PM EDT
[#31]
Quote HistoryQuoted: SAC would not have let this get to this point |
|
|
|
Posted: 2/3/2023 5:25:20 PM EDT
[#32]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Also yes. You get a MIRV, you get a MIRV, and you get a MIRV. Everyone gets a MIRV. That’s the kind of mood I’m in right now, fuck it let the cockroaches have it in a few million years. |
|
|
|
Posted: 2/3/2023 5:28:53 PM EDT
[#33]
Quote HistoryQuoted: https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/85690/Screenshot_20230203_054225_Instagram_jpg-2696199.JPG Hey! This was seen following the Chicom balloon ??! "I want my |
|
|
|
Posted: 2/3/2023 5:40:00 PM EDT
[#34]
Quote HistoryQuoted: There are quite a few industrial lasers with sufficient intensity to pop a balloon from 20+ miles out. Quote HistoryQuoted: There are quite a few industrial lasers with sufficient intensity to pop a balloon from 20+ miles out. 1. Air isn't completely transparent so the energy of the laser attenuates over distance. 2. Air isn't pure air - it has dust, smoke, water vapor, etc. in it. Those things scatter and attenuate the power of the laser. 3. Air isn't a constant temperature, and the different layers of air bend and diffuse the energy of the laser. They use them for cutting steel. A balloon envelope is going to take way less energy. The steel isn't 20 miles away from the laser. Invers-square law is a thing. As I mentioned in the bigger thread, a group of nerds/engineers could quickly repurpose one. Aiming it wouldn't be difficult as the laser has no ballistic trajectory to worry about (or falling/descending projectiles to worry about). All you'd need to do is ensure that the aiming device is parallel to the beam. Any offset is negligible when you're aiming at a 30+ foot diameter target. Since folks are able to capture footage of it from the ground, with cellphones and or spotting scopes, aiming a repurposed industrial laser at it wouldn't be terribly difficult. As I mentioned in that thread, you could even use one of the brighter visible lasers, mounted and aligned with the industrial laser, coupled with a high power scope. "I see the dot on the balloon. Fire" Different wavelengths of light will be bent/diffused/scattered differently, so if the visible light laser is on the target, the high powered laser is likely not. |
|
|
|
Posted: 2/3/2023 5:56:46 PM EDT
[#35]
Quote HistoryQuoted: 1. Air isn't completely transparent so the energy of the laser attenuates over distance. 2. Air isn't pure air - it has dust, smoke, water vapor, etc. in it. Those things scatter and attenuate the power of the laser. 3. Air isn't a constant temperature, and the different layers of air bend and diffuse the energy of the laser. The steel isn't 20 miles away from the laser. Invers-square law is a thing. Different wavelengths of light will be bent/diffused/scattered differently, so if the visible light laser is on the target, the high powered laser is likely not. Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: There are quite a few industrial lasers with sufficient intensity to pop a balloon from 20+ miles out. 1. Air isn't completely transparent so the energy of the laser attenuates over distance. 2. Air isn't pure air - it has dust, smoke, water vapor, etc. in it. Those things scatter and attenuate the power of the laser. 3. Air isn't a constant temperature, and the different layers of air bend and diffuse the energy of the laser. They use them for cutting steel. A balloon envelope is going to take way less energy. The steel isn't 20 miles away from the laser. Invers-square law is a thing. As I mentioned in the bigger thread, a group of nerds/engineers could quickly repurpose one. Aiming it wouldn't be difficult as the laser has no ballistic trajectory to worry about (or falling/descending projectiles to worry about). All you'd need to do is ensure that the aiming device is parallel to the beam. Any offset is negligible when you're aiming at a 30+ foot diameter target. Since folks are able to capture footage of it from the ground, with cellphones and or spotting scopes, aiming a repurposed industrial laser at it wouldn't be terribly difficult. As I mentioned in that thread, you could even use one of the brighter visible lasers, mounted and aligned with the industrial laser, coupled with a high power scope. "I see the dot on the balloon. Fire" Different wavelengths of light will be bent/diffused/scattered differently, so if the visible light laser is on the target, the high powered laser is likely not. While the first 3 points are correct, a collimated beam that can burn through steel, should still retain enough energy at 20+ miles, to burn through a balloon envelope. While different wavelengths experience differences in scattering, 2 aligned lasers of different wavelengths aren't going to be diverging/bending differently enough to miss a ~30 foot target at 20 - 30 miles. |
|
|
|
Posted: 2/3/2023 6:17:02 PM EDT
[#36]
It’s coming right at my house.
 Attached File |
|
|
|
Posted: 2/3/2023 6:29:17 PM EDT
[#37]
Quote HistoryQuoted: whos to say it isn’t loaded with explosives? Apparently it's at a good altitude for EMP delivery https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/washington-secrets/balloons-called-top-delivery-platform-for-nuclear-emp-attack |
|
|
|
Posted: 2/3/2023 6:33:47 PM EDT
[#38]
Quote HistoryQuoted: 50k-60k feet? I can’t imagine any of us has access to something that can hit it from the ground. You’d need a corporate jet, which you wouldn’t be able to shoot out of. Seriously though, is there any hand held weapon capable of hitting that high in the US arsenal? ETA: look at this crap… Chinese balloon seen over U.S. was for weather research, Beijing says Repurpose one of these. https://bosslaser.com/series/fc-series/ |
|
|
|
Posted: 2/3/2023 6:48:42 PM EDT
[#39]
Quote HistoryQuoted: You get a MIRV, you get a MIRV, and you get a MIRV. Everyone gets a MIRV. That’s the kind of mood I’m in right now, fuck it let the cockroaches have it in a few million years. Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: Also yes. You get a MIRV, you get a MIRV, and you get a MIRV. Everyone gets a MIRV. That’s the kind of mood I’m in right now, fuck it let the cockroaches have it in a few million years. No no no You get SEVERAL MIRVs 
|
|
|
|
Posted: 2/3/2023 6:53:10 PM EDT
[#40]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I’m pretty sure some of those advanced amateur rocketeers could get it. The dude who does this instantly - and I mean instantly - becomes THE biggest legend in the history of amateur model rocketry. |
|
|
|
Posted: 2/3/2023 7:02:07 PM EDT
[#41]
Quote HistoryQuoted: The dude who does this instantly - and I mean instantly - becomes THE biggest legend in the history of amateur model rocketry. Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: I’m pretty sure some of those advanced amateur rocketeers could get it. The dude who does this instantly - and I mean instantly - becomes THE biggest legend in the history of amateur model rocketry. Musk could do it!
|
|
|
|
Posted: 2/3/2023 7:14:12 PM EDT
[#42]
Can we un-mothball an A12 and SR71 and strap a sidewinder to it?
|
|
|
|
Posted: 2/3/2023 7:29:35 PM EDT
[#43]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Pretty sure we have multiple military aircraft that could hit the balloon with a missile. Of course, just the missile would cost 10x-100x what the balloon cost so it might not be a good trade. Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: We have no weapon to shoot it with. https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidhambling/2023/02/03/busting-that-chinese-balloon-is-harder-than-you-think/amp/ The article ignores Thaad and Patriot capabilities. Pretty sure we have multiple military aircraft that could hit the balloon with a missile. Of course, just the missile would cost 10x-100x what the balloon cost so it might not be a good trade. Article covers that. Even has a historical example of Canada trying to shoot down their own wayward balloon before it drifted over Russia. Bullet holes don’t allow enough gas to escape quick enough, and missiles just punch through without blowing up. IIRC, they had similar problems at first, in WW1. You could shoot German Zeppelins utterly full of machine gun holes, and the gas leaks were still slow enough to allow them to complete the mission and return to base. The only thing that really did them in was the introductions of incendiary bullets….which of course does us no good in 2023 (helium vs hydrogen). |
|
|
|
Posted: 2/3/2023 7:32:41 PM EDT
[#44]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Article covers that. Even has a historical example of Canada trying to shoot down their own wayward balloon before it drifted over Russia. Bullet holes don’t allow enough gas to escape quick enough, and missiles just punch through without blowing up. IIRC, they had similar problems at first, in WW1. You could shoot German Zeppelins utterly full of machine gun holes, and the gas leaks were still slow enough to allow them to complete the mission and return to base. The only thing that really did them in was the introductions of incendiary bullets….which of course does us no good in 2023 (helium vs hydrogen). Ginsu missile it is then. |
|
|
|
Posted: 2/3/2023 7:32:52 PM EDT
[#45]
Maybe @JonathanwFL finished his hyper sonic missile.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 2/3/2023 7:37:22 PM EDT
[#46]
Op this is the best idea I have ever read on gd. I need a guy with a jet oxygen mask for everyone.and the ability to open a door.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 2/3/2023 7:44:14 PM EDT
[#47]
I really can't believe what I'm seeing. NAORAD according to an analyst knew it was there the minute it launched.
but cancel all passes |
|
|
|
Posted: 2/3/2023 7:54:33 PM EDT
[#48]
Quote HistoryQuoted: This is actually infuriating. Over an area that is lightly populated, we could easily damage/deflate the balloon portion and it would drogue chute to the ground effectively slowing the payload to the point that even if it did hit something it wouldn’t be THAT bad. Why the fuck isn’t our country immediately acting as if this is a hostile event (which it is)? This will only embolden the world as they see how big of a pussy the USA is. Legalities of shooting it down? This is unprecedented and most likely no laws covering action against it by civilians. Hell, If a normal joe or group of joes were to take it down, they’d make history. Charged with war crimes. |
|
|
|
Posted: 2/3/2023 7:59:13 PM EDT
[#49]
Just leave the balloon alone, it's on its way to drop more cash off at Biden's house.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 2/3/2023 8:05:23 PM EDT
[#50]
|
|
|
Win a FREE Membership!
Sign up for the ARFCOM weekly newsletter and be entered to win a free ARFCOM membership. One new winner* is announced every week!
You will receive an email every Friday morning featuring the latest chatter from the hottest topics, breaking news surrounding legislation, as well as exclusive deals only available to ARFCOM email subscribers.
AR15.COM is the world's largest firearm community and is a gathering place for firearm enthusiasts of all types.
From hunters and military members, to competition shooters and general firearm enthusiasts, we welcome anyone who values and respects the way of the firearm.
Subscribe to our monthly Newsletter to receive firearm news, product discounts from your favorite Industry Partners, and more.
Copyright © 1996-2024 AR15.COM LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Any use of this content without express written consent is prohibited.
AR15.Com reserves the right to overwrite or replace any affiliate, commercial, or monetizable links, posted by users, with our own.
Attached File
Attached File