Chinese spy balloons that floated across the US before being shot down from the South Carolina coast in 2023 were carrying technology from at least five American companies, according to a report released Monday.
Among the equipment recovered from the balloon were satellite communications modules, sensors and other sophisticated surveillance equipment, some of which were housed in foam coolers. Newsweek reported We cite two sources with direct knowledge of US military technical analysis.
The FBI declined to comment on the report if Fox News Digital reached it.
The Chinese spy balloon flew from Alaska to the East Coast and was shot down by troops in the Atlantic on February 4, 2023.
What happened… A Chinese spy balloon investigation
The suspicious Chinese spy balloon drifts into the sea after being shot down off the coast of Surfside Beach, South Carolina on February 4, 2023. (Randall Hill/Reuters)
Beijing claimed it was a weather balloon, but an investigation by the US Intelligence Agency found that balloons were used for spies. Information captured by the spy balloon is not believed to have been successfully sent back to Beijing.
Identification of US technology within balloons raises questions about commercial equipment that can be sold or, in some cases, resold to American enemies.
A source who spoke to the outlet on condition of anonymity said a short burst messaging module called Iridium 9602 was one of the technical equipment that was recovered. The device is produced by Iridium, a global satellite communications provider based in Virginia.
In this photo, provided by Chadfish, on Saturday, February 4th, a large balloon floats over the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of South Carolina, where the fighter planes are based, and where the fighter planes are based. (Chadfish via AP)
Jordan Hasim, executive director of communications at Iridium, told the outlet the company would not tolerate the use of radio or modules as “using it in a way that shouldn't be.”
Chinese Spycraft used American technology to collect photos, videos
“There's no way to know what a particular module is using,” Hashim said. “We need to know the module specifically. For us, it could be a whale wearing a tag to track it. It could be a polar bear, an explorer, hiking the mountain. .”
In this image, released by the US Navy, the crew assigned to Assault Craft Unit 4 prepares materials recovered from the Atlantic Myrtle Beach coast for transport to the FBI from China's high-altitude balloon shooting. I will. On February 10, 2023, at Little Creek, Collaborative Expedition Base Little Creek, Virginia Beach, Virginia. (Ryan Seelbach/US Navy via AP)
If the company learns that one of its devices has been misused, Hashim said he will soon work with partners such as the US government to disable it.
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Sources say the other four US companies identified in balloons are Texas Instruments, Omega Engineering, Amphenol All Sensors Corporation and Onsemi. Equipment from Swiss stmicroelectronics was also recovered and identified.
