The balloons that came over the US in the last news cycle, have tended to now be dismissed by conservatives, as it seems that a $ 12 balloon was shot down with a $ 400, 000 missile. If it was the idea of communist China to get the US edgy, as it is doing with its incursions into Taiwanese airspace, then it succeeded. However, the balloon saga has also drawn attention to communist China’s use of balloons as weapons of war. What is not generally understood is that balloon technology has advanced, so that balloons are the best technology for “near space,” the region 12 to 62 miles above the Earth. It is too high for jets, but too low for satellites, so balloons hit the spot, so to speak. Balloons are cheaper and easier to manoeuvre, compared to jets and satellites and can carry a heavier payload, cover a wider area, and are harder to detect. As well, as shown last week, they have a cost in being shot down, with bullets often being inadequate, due to distances and being fired from moving craft, so that expensive missiles need to be used. Balloons are an ancient vehicle of war, now in the modern battle arena, and being used to advantage by communist China.
