Chinese Spy Balloon Used American Technology to Conduct Surveillance

A newly released analysis confirms what many Americans feared: the Chinese spy balloon that brazenly drifted across the United States two years ago was not just a harmless weather balloon it was a sophisticated surveillance device. Even more disturbing, it contained multiple pieces of American-made technology, raising serious concerns about how U.S. components are ending up in the hands of hostile foreign powers.

According to a 75-page technical review obtained by Newsweek, the massive 200-foot balloon carried high-tech communication and surveillance gear, including components sourced from multiple U.S. companies. Some of the most concerning findings include:

• Iridium 9602 satellite communication modules, produced by Virginia-based Iridium Communications, which allowed the balloon to transmit data.

• Sensors from at least four American companies, including Texas Instruments, Omega Engineering, Amphenol All Sensors Corporation, and Onsemi.

• Potential storage for deployable surveillance devices, such as specialized gliders that could collect additional intelligence.

Despite China's insistence that the balloon was a civilian meteorological device that “drifted off course”, the evidence suggests otherwise. Investigators noted that much of the recovered technology aligns with Chinese military-linked patents, specifically from the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Aerospace Information Innovation Research Institute.

The presence of American-made technology in a Chinese spy balloon underscores a critical flaw in U.S. export controls. While Beijing continues to ramp up its espionage operations, weak enforcement of export restrictions allows sensitive technology to slip into the wrong hands.

• The balloon’s surveillance system was capable of intercepting communications and gathering data on key U.S. infrastructure.

• Some equipment, such as satellite communication modules, matched technology found in Chinese military research patents.

• Shockingly, some electronics were stored in a foam cooler, suggesting cost-cutting but still demonstrating a focus on intelligence-gathering.

The Biden administration’s failure to act swiftly only emboldened Beijing. The balloon was allowed to travel over multiple U.S. states, potentially gathering intelligence before it was finally shot down. The real question is: why was it ever allowed to enter U.S. airspace in the first place?

This incident serves as a wake-up call. America cannot afford to have its own technology used against it by hostile foreign actors. The Trump administration has already taken steps to tighten export laws, but this report highlights the need for even stronger restrictions and enforcement.

If China can infiltrate American airspace with a spy balloon carrying U.S.-made components, what else is slipping through the cracks?

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