Tag: debris

Israel’s Iron Beam: Everything you need to know

Ms. Cat

Pictures and video of the Iron Dome in action have made appearances across the news and social media apps since Hamas terrorists launched an attack against Israel on Oct. 7. It’s a powerful system, but instead of smart rockets, what if there was a system that used lasers instead? That is exactly what Rafael Advanced Defense Systems’ latest aerial defense system, the Iron Beam, is capable of.

Israel’s Iron Beam: Everything you need to know

Related:

White House requesting funding for Israeli laser weapon, other military assistance

House of Representatives, Israel emergency supplemental appropriations

US military ends search for balloons shot down over Alaska and Lake Huron

Ms. Cat

Military says objects are thought to have landed in difficult terrain, after hobbyists suggested one could belong to them.

US military ends search for balloons shot down over Alaska and Lake Huron

Most likely, we’ll never know if they really did shoot down a pico balloon. They’re too embarrassed.

Related:

Did an F-22 shoot down an Illinois hobby group’s small radio balloon?

A military spokesperson tells NPR it’s their understanding that the FBI has spoken to the hobbyist group in question — the Northern Illinois Bottlecap Balloon Brigade, based just north of Chicago — in an apparent attempt to determine whether their small balloon might have inadvertently caused a big ruckus.

…

When the prediction showed K9YO-15 heading from Alaska over the Yukon, [Dan] Bowen said, “we really hoped it wouldn’t be intercepted. But we knew the moment that the intercept was reported, whose it was and which one it was.”

Asked if he believes the Northern Illinois Bottlecap Balloon Brigade’s balloon was shot down, Bowen didn’t hesitate.

“Yes. Absolutely,” he said. “You know, I would say with 98% certainty.”

When a weather balloon went rogue almost 25 years ago, fighter jets fired 1,000 rounds at it and couldn’t bring it down

Ms. Cat1 Comment
Wikipedia, translated from Japanese.

Almost 25 years ago, a large runaway weather balloon proved to be quite challenge a for a pair of fighter jets trying to shoot it down, staying in the air even after more than 1,000 rounds were fired at it.

When a weather balloon went rogue almost 25 years ago, fighter jets fired 1,000 rounds at it and couldn’t bring it down

Wondering how Canada missed it?! Nothing was publicly said until it entered the US?!