dr thomas withington is an expert in electronic warfare, radar and military communications.ns more about why it's so difficult to deal with the balloon, the balloon is, judging by all appearances, made of a soft, probably rubber or plastic—like material that makes, i would imagine, does make it very difficult to detect. and because it's difficult to detect, it's hard to effectively guide either a surface—to—air missile or a fighter onto it. both of those capabilities require radar in some shape or form, to be able to fix the target, follow it and then to be able to guide the aircraft or the missile in. dr withington also says the balloon could be there for multiple reasons biraghi is a possibility and another is that it biraghi is a possibility and another is that it is biraghi is a possibility and another is that it is you biraghi is a possibility and another is that it is you being biraghi is a possibility and another is that it is you being used biraghi is a possibility and another is that it is you being used to biraghi is a possibility and another is that it is you bein

dr thomas withington is an expert in electronic warfare, radar and military communications.'s so difficult to the balloon is, judging by all appearances, made of a soft, probably rubber or plastic—like material that makes, i would imagine, does make it very difficult to detect. and because it's difficult to detect, it's hard to effectively guide either a surface—to—air missile or a fighter onto it. both of those capabilities require radar in some shape or form, to be able to fix the target, follow it and then to be able to guide the aircraft or the missile in. dr withington also says the balloon could be there for multiple reasons we have a statement from the pentagon in the us. this is from the secretary of defence, lloyd austin. it's quite long, but well worth reading. this is the first of visual —— first official detail. us fighter aircraft... want to to the people's republic of china. over the water off the coast of south carolina in us airspace. the balloon, brought down above us territorial waters. president biden gave his authorisation as soon as the mission could be

dr thomas withington is an expert in electronic warfare, radar and military communications.ore about why it's so difficult to deal with the balloon. the balloon is, judging by all appearances, made of a soft, probably rubber or plastic—like material that makes, i would imagine, does make it very difficult to detect. and because it's difficult to detect, it's hard to effectively guide either a surface—to—air missile or a fighter onto it. both of those capabilities require radar in some shape or form, to be able to fix the target, follow it and then to be able to guide the aircraft or the missile in. for more on that, i'm joined now by susan shirk, chair of the 21st century china center. it looks at us china relations. very good to have you do you think antony blinken was correct in his decision to cancel his rated visit to beijing? i to cancel his rated visit to bei'ina ? ~ ,., to cancel his rated visit to bei'inu? ~ , , ., bei'ing? i think so because it made it beijing? i think so because it made it impossible _ beijing? i think so because it made it impossible to _ beijing?

dr thomas withington is an expert in electronic warfare, radar and military communications. more about why it's so difficult to deal with the balloon the balloon is, judging by appearances, made of a soft probably rubber or plastic —like material that makes, does make it fairly difficult to detect and because it is difficult to detect it is hard to effectively guide either a surface to air missile onto it are fighter onto it. because both of those capabilities require radar in some shape orform to be capabilities require radar in some shape or form to be able to fix the target and follow it and guide the target and follow it and guide the target or guide the missile. joining me now is our north america correspondent, david willis. these calls from beijing to deal with the matter in a cool—headed and prudent way and yet they haven't taken the balloon out of us airspace as far as we are aware. that taken the balloon out of us airspace as far as we are aware.— as far as we are aware. that is ri . ht as far as we are aware. that is right and _ as far as we are aware. that is rig