F-22s And Weather Balloons — February 12, 2023

A reader asked why the USAF was using F-22s to shoot down weather balloons.

My not-ready-for-prime-time reply:

There could be any number of reasons.

As soon as the target was identified, the president would have asked SEC/DOD what options the USAF had if the decision was made to take out the balloon. In general, whenever the president asks a question like that, the Sec/DOD gives the president the three best options and the president chooses -- in this case, the first choice was likely the only "real" choice; the additional choices were provided because the president wants to make a choice. It's very possible the USAF gave the president the three options that the USAF wanted, not necessarily the best or only three options, if that makes sense.

The most likely reason is the "jurisdiction" issue. 

The air base most closely located to the target may be an F-22 base. 

From what little I know (not classified) any of the modern fighters equipped with the right missile could have done this -- the newer planes are stealthier, have better maneuverability, etc, all of which is not important in taking out a balloon over friendly territory. A B-52 with the right missile could have also taken out the balloon based on what little I know -- remember the B-52 is named the Stratofortress ... designed for flying at high altitudes. 

Depending on whether the fighter goes supersonic or not to get there, the fighter has only so much range, and had to get to the target before the target was in a location where shooting it down might become problematic. 

The Chinese -- if these are Chinese balloons -- are getting huge amounts of data including whether NORAD can even see these small objects before they get over US air space. 

Whatever the USAF uses, does not matter to me. These are "training missions" as well as opportunities for promotion. 

The pilot(s) who shot these down was (were) on the path to advancement to general office (first star).  

The cost of the Sparrow missile is immaterial. Absolutely immaterial.