A Chinese spy balloon that flew over the United States last year was found to be equipped with American technology that could have been used for surveillance purposes, reports Newsweek. The balloon, which traveled from Alaska to South Carolina, crossed over sensitive military installations, leading to concerns about China gathering intelligence. The US military shot down the balloon just off the coast of South Carolina and recovered it from the Atlantic Ocean.
The balloon was found to contain technology from at least five US firms, including a satellite communication module, sensors, and surveillance equipment. It also may have been carrying launchable gliders for more detailed data collection. The technology found on the balloon matched a patent awarded to the Chinese Academy of Sciences Aerospace Information Innovation Research Institute.
The US had previously stated that the balloon was part of a large-scale surveillance program by China, while China claimed it was a meteorological balloon that had strayed due to strong winds. Chinese officials stated that the incident was an accident caused by “force majeure” and that they had provided details to the US after verifying the situation. The analysis of the material recovered from the balloon revealed the incorporation of an Iridium communications system and technology from four other US companies, as well as one Swiss company.
The presence of American technology on the Chinese spy balloon raises concerns about potential spying activities and highlights the need for heightened security measures to protect sensitive information.
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