A Chinese spy balloon that crossed the U.S. in 2023 carried technologies from at least five American companies, including satellite communication equipment and sophisticated sensors. This raises concerns over the sale of U.S. tech to potential adversaries, as investigations found the balloon was used for espionage rather than its claimed purpose as a weather balloon.
A recent report reveals that the Chinese spy balloon, which traversed the United States before being shot down off South Carolina in 2023, was equipped with technology from at least five American firms. Among the equipment retrieved was a satellite communication module and various sophisticated surveillance tools that were partially stored in a foam cooler, as cited by two sources familiar with a U.S. military technical analysis.
The balloon’s journey commenced in Alaska and concluded with its destruction by military forces over the Atlantic Ocean on February 4, 2023. While Beijing claimed it was a weather balloon, investigations by U.S. intelligence agencies determined its true purpose was espionage. However, it remains unclear if any information captured was successfully transmitted back to Chinese authorities.
The presence of U.S.-made technology in the balloon raises significant concerns regarding commercially available equipment that could potentially be acquired by adversaries. Among these technologies, a message module known as Iridium 9602, produced by Virginia-based Iridium, was reportedly recovered. The company expressed its disapproval of the misuse of its technology by foreign entities.
Iridium’s Executive Director for Communications, Jordan Hassim, indicated that the specific application of a technology module is often indeterminate. He affirmed that should Iridium discover its equipment is being used improperly, the company would collaborate with government partners to disable it immediately. The report also identified additional technology from Texas Instruments, Omega Engineering, Amphenol All Sensors Corp., and Onsemi, along with equipment from Swiss firm STMicroelectronics.
This incident underscores the potential vulnerabilities in the sale of technological components that can end up in the hands of adversaries. The identified technologies within the spy balloon highlight the necessity for stricter regulations regarding technology transfer and sales to prevent espionage activities. Additionally, it raises awareness about the implications of dual-use technologies that can serve both civilian and military purposes.
Original Source: www.foxnews.com
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