Chinese Spy Balloon Contained Technology from Five U.S. Companies, Report Reveals

The 2023 balloon, shot down after crossing the U.S., carried American-made surveillance components, raising export control concerns.

A U.S. military analysis found the 2023 Chinese spy balloon was equipped with technology from at least five American companies, including satellite communication modules and advanced sensors.
The balloon's components included the Iridium 9602 messaging module, produced by a Virginia-based company, and other equipment from Texas Instruments, Omega Engineering, Amphenol All Sensors Corporation, and Onsemi.
The technology was reportedly used to collect intelligence on sensitive U.S. military sites and infrastructure during the balloon's journey across the country.
The discovery highlights weaknesses in export controls, as commercially available American technology ended up in a device linked to China's military surveillance efforts.
China continues to claim the balloon was a civilian weather airship that accidentally entered U.S. airspace, a narrative disputed by U.S. intelligence findings.