Analysis Reveals US-Made Technology in Chinese Spy Balloon

In February 2023, a Chinese spy balloon that entered U.S. airspace reportedly utilized technology from five American companies, including Iridium and Texas Instruments, as indicated by a classified U.S. Military report. Sources familiar with the report disclosed that the balloon was equipped with surveillance gear capable of gathering information on American citizens. Chinese officials insisted the balloon was a benign weather research aircraft that unintentionally strayed into U.S. airspace due to meteorological factors. Jordan Hassim, the Executive Director for Communications at Iridium, declared the company's disapproval of any inappropriate use of its technology.