Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

EndlessEmergency t1_j738ot4 wrote

It's reportedly at around 66,000 feet, which is only 1,000 feet above the declared maximum altitude of an F-15. Using the F-15s cannon on it, one could perforate the balloon and cause it to lose lift gas, which would end in a gradual descent. Even if the balloon were to fully deflate, it would act as a huge source of drag (much like a parachute) and prevent the payload from free falling.

54

OskaMeijer t1_j75pb11 wrote

I mean, it is good that it wouldn't fall at terminal velocity but I feel like something the size of a bus falling at even 1/4 of that speed could be pretty devastating to whatever it hits.

17

jrob323 t1_j777gje wrote

The F-15s M61 cannon sprays 20mm shells at 4000-6000 rounds per minute and they travel at high velocity for miles. You'd have to be extremely careful about picking an unpopulated area to do this over. I doubt any air-to-air missiles would lock onto this thing (I'm certainly no expert). And as you pointed out, this thing is beyond an F-15s service ceiling, so it would be risky. A U2 or other recon aircraft could easily reach that altitude, but they have no weapons.

Maybe they're planning to get more aggressive/creative when it's over the Atlantic.

8