Navy Underwater Robots, Divers Searching for Remains of Chinese Spy Balloon; Salvage Ship Set to Deploy from Little Creek for Recovery
By: Sam LaGrone
February 6, 2023 4:42 PM • Updated: February 6, 2023 6:10 PM
A U.S. amphibious warship, explosive and ordnance divers and underwater robots are off the coast of South Carolina surveying about a square mile off the Atlantic Ocean for the remains of a high-altitude Chinese spy balloon a U.S. fighter shot down on Saturday, defense officials told reporters on Monday.
USS Carter Hall (LSD-50), Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group (EODGRU) 2, USNS Pathfinder (T-AGS-60) and an unidentified tug are off the coast of Myrtle Beach surveying the remains of the balloon and its surveillance payload, U.S. Northern Command commander Air Force Gen. Glen VanHerck told reporters on Monday.
On Saturday, an Air Force F-22 Raptor fighter fired an AIM-9X Sidewinder anti-air missile from 58,000 feet to hit the balloon, which was flying at about 62,000 feet above U.S. territorial waters, officials said on Saturday. The mission was in part crafted to minimize the risk to people on the ground and keep the debris in U.S. territorial waters. Additionally, guided-missile destroyer USS Oscar Austin (DDG-79) and guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG-58) were operating in the vicinity of the crash site. Both ships are equipped with the powerful AN/SPY-1 air search radar.
https://news.usni.org/2023/02/06/navy-underwater-robots-divers-searching-for-remains-of-chinese-spy-balloon-salvage-ship-set-to-deploy-from-little-creek-for-recovery
