The Shocking Truth About a Chinese Spy Balloon That Entered US Airspace
In February 2023, a massive, white balloon entered US airspace, sparking panic across the nation. The Chinese government initially claimed it was a civilian meteorological device that had blown off course, but as the balloon floated near Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana, home to intercontinental ballistic missiles, officials scrambled to take action.
Retired Air Force General Glen VanHerck, who led the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) at the time, revealed in an interview with the National Post that he was only notified about the balloon two weeks before it crossed into the Lower 48. VanHerck immediately scrambled two Raptor stealth fighters and two armed F-16s to deal with the balloon, but due to it not posing a physical threat, the jets had to stand down until President Joe Biden gave the greenlight.
The Chinese government insisted that the device was a civilian meteorological device that had blown off course, but after the balloon altered course and passed over sensitive nuclear sites, it was eventually shot down by an American F-22 aircraft over the Atlantic Ocean.
The incident highlighted the vulnerability of the US to high-altitude surveillance and the potential for attacks to arrive without warning. VanHerck emphasized the importance of prompt notification and warning systems, stating that “it’s a failure of multiple intelligence, Department of Defense agencies. I should not get surprised by something that’s coming into my area of responsibility… Anybody who knows about it should pass that on. It shouldn’t be less than 24 hour’s notice.”
The balloon’s trajectory took it over several sensitive US military bases, including Malmstrom Air Force Base, Offutt Air Force Base, and Whiteman Air Force Base. Although the US government declined to specify which sites the balloon surveyed, VanHerck believes that NORAD should have been warned sooner about the balloon’s approach.
The incident sparked controversy, with Republican Senator Tom Cotton criticizing the decision to let the balloon float across America without taking action earlier. VanHerck, however, believes that the decision to wait allowed the US to gather intelligence on the balloon and ultimately maximize its collection.