The Pentagon releases a selfie taken by a U-2 Dragon Lady pilot flying above the Chinese spy balloon. The segment questions why the 1950s-era U-2 aircraft is still in service for high-altitude surveillance missions.
4 chapters across the catalog
The Pentagon releases a selfie taken by a U-2 Dragon Lady pilot flying above the Chinese spy balloon. The segment questions why the 1950s-era U-2 aircraft is still in service for high-altitude surveillance missions.
U.S. intelligence officials claim the downed balloon is part of a larger Chinese military spying effort spanning five continents and based out of Hainan Island. Reports suggest balloons have violated airspace globally since 2019, including incidents over Hawaii and Florida.

Chinese Surveillance Balloon, US Airspace Intrusion and Media Reaction
A Chinese high-altitude balloon entered North American airspace, leading to the cancellation of Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to Beijing. The Pentagon tracked the craft over Montana nuclear sites before an F-22 shot it down off the South Carolina coast. Media outlets characterized the event as a major national security threat while China claimed it was a civilian weather balloon blown off course.

IBM Buys Weather Company Assets, J-Lens Balloon Crash
IBM acquired the digital assets of the Weather Company to integrate data into its Watson AI platform for climate strategies. Meanwhile, a massive "J-Lens" military surveillance balloon broke loose from its tether in Maryland and drifted into Pennsylvania, taking out power lines before crashing.