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> I don't quite believe the reason about guns not being fast enough to bring it down.

What makes this reason a challenge for you to believe?

The F-22’s M61A2 20mm Gatling gun propels 20mm (~0.75”) rounds. A full load out is 480 rounds.

The target is a 90’ diameter, nearly atmosphere equalized pressure vessel. Striking the target with 480 rounds of that size is nowhere near enough to create a large escape surface for the slightly positive pressure gas to vacate quickly.




As I said, enough rounds would do the trick. No reason not to send in two or three planes. Except that all of that increases the risk.

Also you assume a clean through-and-through hole, no tearing. I think the risk to the pilots from flying straight at a balloon is the bigger factor.


You’ll need more than 1,000 rounds[1] (and that was a much smaller balloon)

[1] “ The time a wayward Canadian balloon caused an international stir — and thwarted 3 air forces” - https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.6737831




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