U. S. can install transponders on balloons-Senate
2023.02.16 09:09
U. S. can install transponders on balloons-Senate
By Ray Johnson
Budrigannews.com – In order to assist the U.S. military in distinguishing between potential threats, Senator Mark Kelly says that Congress should consider mandating transponders on high-altitude weather and research balloons.
After American fighter jets shot down a Chinese balloon and three other objects, the issue has received additional attention in recent days.
Kelly, an Arizona Democrat, stated in an interview with Reuters on Wednesday that “if we require transponders on them we would make the military’s life a lot easier – we don’t want to be firing AIM-9X (missiles) at a NASA weather balloon.”
“We need to get a better picture so the military can sort out what is what, since these things have now proliferated and we know they are a problem, especially from the perspective of China using them for surveillance.”
Kelly, who has also worked as a pilot in the United States Navy and as an astronaut for NASA, said that he is thinking about writing legislation that would require balloons to have transponders. This would make it possible for military personnel and air traffic controllers to identify balloons that are not a threat.
While Beijing referred to the Chinese balloon as a weather balloon, the United States claimed that it was used for surveillance.
Three other objects have been shot down since the 200-foot Chinese balloon was shot down on February 4 by an American fighter jet. Kelly stated that the identity of the remaining objects is still unclear.
Every day, the National Weather Service sends balloons carrying instruments that are tracked by specialized ground equipment to around 90 locations.
John Kirby, spokesperson for national security at the White House (NYSE:) said on Tuesday that the intelligence community of the United States is looking into the possibility that the items were used for a business or other benign purpose.
Jake Sullivan, Biden’s national security adviser, was given the responsibility of leading a group of related agencies to develop guidelines for dealing with unidentified objects in the future.
At a Senate hearing on Wednesday, Billy Nolen, acting chief of the Federal Aviation Administration, stated that the task force is functioning. Nolen stated, “That team includes the FAA.” That team has met previously and continues to meet.
