A Chinese balloon that was allegedly used to spy on Americans in 2023 by traversing over the country was actually packed with U.S. technology, according to a report by Newsweek.

The Chinese balloon floated across the country in February of 2023, and was shot down by the U.S. military over the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of South Carolina on Feb. 4. The debris was fully recovered nearly two weeks later. China has maintained the balloon was a civilian meteorological research platform.

The balloon prompted national security concern because it floated over multiple military sites before it was shot down. 

Two sources with direct knowledge of a technical analysis of the balloon told Newsweek for an article published Monday that it was equipped with a satellite communication module, sensors and other tech from at least five American firms. The equipment gave the balloon the capability to survey Americans, take photographs, and collect other intelligence data.

The balloon also could have carried two launchable gliders that would have collected more detailed information, because two storage bays were empty, the sources said. But the gliders have not been discovered.

The new information comes from a 75-page analysis of the parts recovered from the spy balloon and two other alleged balloons, which was carried out by the National Air and Space Intelligence Center in Ohio.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.