The Pentagon has announced that in recent years at least 40 Chinese balloons have flown over different parts of the world far and wide, including Italy. Yes, precisely our country where there is the highest concentration of high NATO and American military technology scattered from north to south in the various military bases. From Aviano, Vicenza and Camp Darby, up to Naples, Taranto and Sigonella to then move on to Ghedi, Ferrara Gaeta and Gioia del Colle.
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The US FBI has begun a study of the balloon debris recovered at sea. It was carrying a cargo the size of an aircraft and when it became visible over Montana it was shot down by air-to-air missiles from an F-22 raptor fighter. China, warned by the Americans of the imminent shooting down, has blocked all transmissions to prevent their capture. Even if the American military had already applied type countermeasures jamming to prevent the return of photo and video information to China.
The Chinese have relied on the simple technology of air balloons because, unlike satellites, they have the ability to stop for a long time on areas to be monitored. They can take more detailed pictures. The downed vehicle had antennas that were specifically used to pick up and record intelligence communications.
The general Patrick Ryder, a Pentagon spokesman, said that in recent years these Chinese aircraft have been sighted in Latin America, East Asia and Europe, in addition to the five noted in the American skies. “We therefore believe that this episode is part of a larger program of the People's Republic for surveillance on a global scale“, emphasized the general..