• Ar
  • Es
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Feature
  • Videos
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Feature
Videos
Infographs
In Pictures
  1. Home
  2. News
  3. US & Canada
  4. Surge in aerial discoveries due to radar systems re-calibration: WH
US & Canada

Surge in aerial discoveries due to radar systems re-calibration: WH

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 14 Feb 19:35

US National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby admit that the US could not ascertain that objects in its airspace are for surveillance purposes.

  • Kirby: surge in aerial discoveries due to radar systems re-calibration
    In this image provided by the U.S. Navy, sailors assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 2, conduct pre-dive checks during recovery efforts for debris from a Chinese high altitude balloon in the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Myrtle Beach, S.C., Feb. 7, 2023 (Ryan Seelbach/U.S. Navy via AP)

Increased detection of balloons and various aerial objects has been due to the re-calibration of military radar systems following the discovery of the first Chinese "spy balloon" in its airspace said White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby on Tuesday in an interview with ABC.

"Because of the spy balloon, we’ve changed some of the radar parameters for our air defense capabilities, particularly over the northern part of our atmosphere. And it is possible that in part because of tweaking the radars’ sensitivity, we’re simply seeing more objects right now," Kirby said.

However, Kirby did admit that the US government could not ascertain the objects discovered in its airspace were surveillance aircraft but rather he argued that "they could be from a nation-state, they could be from commercial entities, research, scientific institutions, we just don't know."

US President Joe Biden's administration, according to Kirby, has been closely examining the "Chinese spy balloon program" since coming into office.

“This is the program they have been working on for seven years," adding "So they have ramped up their abilities, they have ramped up their deployment of these balloons over just recent years," Kirby said.

Read more: US sent 'weather' balloons to spy on China, USSR in 1950s

US intelligence: Chinese balloon, among many more, part of aerial spy program

Earlier, on February 8, the US intelligence, The Washington Post reported citing several US officials, that it believed that the suspected Chinese surveillance balloon, which has been shot down by the US military, was part of a vast surveillance program of China's People's Liberation Army.

The Washington Post reported that the US intel suspects the Chinese balloon was one of many meant to collect sensitive military information from Japan, India, Vietnam, Taiwan, and the Philippines.

According to officials, balloons belonging to China have been located over five continents.

"What the Chinese have done is taken an unbelievably old technology, and basically married it with modern communications and observation capabilities" to try to glean intelligence on other nations’ militaries... It’s a massive effort," one of the officials said.  

Officials also relayed that allies the US believed to be a target of the alleged 'spy’ balloon have been contacted as well. It was reported by US media, quoting a senior administration official that a briefing was conducted by Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on the matter for around 40 embassies on February 6.

"There has been great interest in this on the part of our allies and partners... Many of them recognize that they, too, may be vulnerable or susceptible to this or an object of interest to the PRC [the People's Republic of China]," the cited official said.  

Read more: US 'balloons' flew 10 times over China since last year: FM spox

  • Chinese balloon
  • US National Security Council
  • US
  • China
  • John Kirby

Trending Now

All
The Chinese balloon shortly before it was shot down over Surfside Beach, South Carolina, on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023(Joe Granita, Zuma Press/TNS)

WH says US in talks with allies after the Chinese balloon scare

Most Read

Indonesian president Joko Widodo during an interview in Jakarta in 2016 (Reuters)

Widodo urges Indonesia to abandon Visa, MasterCard to be 'independent'

  • Asia
  • 16 Mar
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen listens to opening remarks before testifying before the Senate Finance Committee about the President's proposed budget request for the fiscal year 2024, Thursday, March 16, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP)

US Debt ceiling ‘must be raised’ ahead of default: Treasury Secretary

  • US & Canada
  • 16 Mar
Rallies held in Washington DC to protest US militarism

Peace rallies held in Washington DC to protest US militarism

  • US & Canada
  • 18 Mar
Poland

Poland may end up 'joining' Ukraine war: Polish Ambassador to France

  • Europe
  • 20 Mar

Read this

All
In this picture released by an official website of the office of the Iranian leader, Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei makes a public address at the northeastern city of Mashhad, Iran, March 21, 2023 (Office of the Iranian leader via AP)
Asia

US sparked Ukraine war to expand NATO: Iranian leader Sayyed Khamenei

  • Today
Iraqi Army M1A1 Abrams tanks, purchased from the US, maneuver during a live fire exercise outside Baghdad, Iraq, October 18, 2011 (AP)
Europe

US expediting delivery of M1A1 Abrams tanks, Patriot system to Ukraine

  • 21 Mar
A general view of the illegal Israeli settlement of 'Efrat' in the occupied West Bank, occupied Palestine, January 30, 2023 (AP)
Palestine

'Israel' repeals law that sanctioned four West Bank settlements

  • 21 Mar
Russia, China sign joint statement on deepening strategic partnership
Europe

Russia, China sign joint statement on deepening strategic partnership

  • 21 Mar
Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS