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US authorities said China hot air balloon carry multiple antennas, including those capable of locating communications, the Wall Street Journal reported on February 12.
Besides, balloon carry solar panels large enough to power sensors capable of gathering intelligence.
According to the US State Department, the initial information about the equipment on the balloon was obtained through photos taken from U-2 aircraft and other types of reconnaissance aircraft during the period of time. Balloons fly over US airspace.
The balloon manufacturer has direct ties to the Chinese military. The US State Department said Washington was preparing sanctions against companies linked to Beijing’s balloon program.
More details about the types of equipment on the balloon will be released after the FBI examines the debris collected off the coast of South Carolina, US authorities said.
Operation Axis with Balloon Debris is still going on. On February 9, the salvage operation was interrupted because of bad weather.
A US fighter jet shot down a Chinese hot air balloon over the Atlantic Ocean on February 4. Washington accused the balloons of being used for spying purposes. Meanwhile, China denied the above accusations, asserting that the balloons were used for meteorological research.