CTH: The weird just continues to get more and more weird. According to Fox News, the “object” targeted over Lake Huron was engaged by an F-16, firing a “sidewinder missile to attack the target.” However, the first missile missed the target and the military have no idea where it landed. Yikes. more
26 Comments on First Missile Fired From F-16 Over Lake Huron Missed – Military Has No Idea Where it Landed
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During the early days of the Vietnam war, we had the same problem with air-to-air missiles. The F4 Phantoms weren’t equipped with guns then because the geniuses at the pentagon deemed them unnecessary. Later versions got guns.
A) Somebody please explain how a $400,000 air to air missile misses a helium baloon.
B) Why are we shooting $400,000 air to air missiles at helium baloons?
I smacked my head on a Sidewinder missile fin once while underneath my F4 Phantom on board the flight deck of the Kitty Hawk doing a routine inspection in 1974 while I was not wearing my helmet and got a fairly deep bloody gash on my forehead that I had to see the Corpsman for to get 5 stitches in my forehead. And all my other Plane Captain buddy a guy we called Rat was to say “Jesus JR, get that bloody mess taken care of.” We all had nicknames for each other like Rat, Wolf, Radar, Beetle Bailey etc., mine was JR which are my initials. Do you think if I’d been like Lt. John effin Kerry I would’ve got a Purple heart for being careless and stupid? NAH!
First all women(?) flyover…
Don’t they have a self destruct function if the target is missed?
Heat seeking? What’s hot in a balloon?
I shot an arrow into the air…
Since Austin and Milly took over, the lesson plans for fighter pilots have “evolved”. Instead Guided Missiles 101 and Fighter Tactics, they are learning about male menstrual cycles, gender fluidity, and combating white supremacy.
Our once-vaunted military is good for nothing except furthering an ideological construct that does not work and serves no one.
Makes me wonder that there using fabrics/materials that are non radar absorbing and able to diminish their infrared signature.
Or simply a faulty weapon.
Someone out there probably knows but I assume the missile would only arm upon target acquisition?
Obviously it didn’t come down in DC so I’d call it a HUGE miss.
I wanted to broach the subject when the first balloon was downed. Having been to Sidewinder school in the USMC long ago, I’ve been perplexed (as others above) as to why use that platform. The sidewinder is a self guided HEAT seeker. How many times have I read “no apparent source of propulsion,” which is a winded definition of a balloon. I would test the seeker head using a lit cigarette. Never thought to use a balloon. Of course it missed. The Sidewinder is an incredibly efficient platform if the target has an exhaust pipe. I don’t know the answer to my following question. Anyone? Do we not have a war plane with wing cannons anymore?
It will show up or it’s at the bottom of the lake. Saw a meme of a jet fighter with push pins instead of rockets. Probably would have worked better and cheaper.
OldCoot,
And that is what ChYnA’s Goal is.
1 Well equipped Balloon followed by a bunch of nuisance Balloons as eyes get off target on ChYnA & Ukraine while scanning North American skies and chasing low cost targets.
Lurker,
Altitude & Projectile Arc.
The projectiles have to land somewhere.
Missiles detonate (shrapnel) , bullets go right through.
You mean to tell me the Air Force lost in a dogfight with a balloon?
Wondering if the A.F. will add the pilots pronouns next to rank and call sign on the side of the aircraft.
Huron!
I hope you’re ok!!
If you see a weird bomb looking thing in your front yard, don’t go tinkering around with it!!! LOL
Maybe the helium was too cold for the infrared-seeking missile to find.
Or maybe one of those affirmative-action pilots aren’t such great shots.
A missile went “missing”.
Sure.
I hope it’s found under Kamala Harris’ knees.
Finders keepers, right?
^^^^ If it didn’t self destruct believe me, that’s the last damn thing you won’t to find.
A-10 Warthogs and C 130’s still have cannons and mini guns to boot. And A 7’s still have 20 mm cannons if they even fly them anymore. I can’t even imagine what my pronoun as a Plane Captain would be if they would’ve had such bullshit back when I was in the Navy 50 years ago. My pilot would’ve been Sir and I was an enlisted Airman designated as AN.
Are we sure the missal didn’t hit the train in Ohio?
Sidewinders are heat seeking missiles. If one’s on your tail, fly into the sun, and then veer off; it’ll lock onto the sun.
Maybe THAT’S why they didn’t shoot it down over the center of the country. Too much potential collateral damage from our own weaponry….
Geoff the Aardvark, until recently the A10 was still flying out of Tucson, and the C130 out of Youngstown, OH. Just about every Tuesday one or two C130s fly past our Lake home over the edge of Lake Erie. I’m guessing at 200′. Tou can wave to the flight deck and often they’ll wave back. Low and NOISY they are!
Although in the Marine Corp 50+ years ago I attended Navy schools for my military electrical engineering comparable course of study. Went through tube theory then started over with solid state theory. My subsequent Navy designation was AQ.
Even if the missile hit the balloon would it even detonate?