A Chinese spy balloon that floated across the United States before being shot down off the South Carolina coast in February 2023 contained technology from at least five American companies, as per a report.
As per the report in Newsweek, a US military analysis found that the balloon carried a satellite communication module, sensors, and advanced surveillance equipment, some of which was stored in a foam cooler. There is no official statement made by the FBI yet.
The balloon, which travelled from Alaska to the East Coast before being shot down over the Atlantic on February 4, 2023, was initially described by Beijing as a civilian weather balloon. However, US intelligence agencies later confirmed it was being used for spying. Reports indicate that while it collected intelligence, the data never made it to China.
One of the American-made components found in the balloon was an Iridium 9602 short-burst messaging module, made by Virginia-based Iridium. The company’s communications director, Jordan Hassim, told American magazine that Iridium does not support the misuse of its technology. He explained that their modules are used for various purposes, such as tracking wildlife or assisting explorers.
Other US companies whose technology was identified in the balloon reportedly included Texas Instruments, Omega Engineering, Amphenol All Sensors Corp, and Onsemi. Swiss-based STMicroelectronics also had components in the device.
