US shoots down fourth flying object

[Josquius]

I have to wonder on these whether there's not a better way to shoot them down than sidewinder missiles. Seems overkill.

[mongers]

I have to wonder on these whether there's not a better way to shoot them down than sidewinder missiles. Seems overkill.

Ramming?

[Tamas]

Good point if they were balloons why not just machine gun them, don't at least F16s have them by default?

[Josephus]

99 Red Balloons

hmm...they took my joke and made it better.

[grumbler]

I have to wonder on these whether there's not a better way to shoot them down than sidewinder missiles. Seems overkill.

Sidewinder is the cheapest air-to-air missile, so the only cheaper alternative is guns.  That would impose a degree of risk to the aircraft, given that we don't know the composition of the target.  Plus, you are using a lot more fuel, so maybe not saving as much money as one would think.

The aliens probably feel disrespected that they are being killed by a weapon first introduced almost 70 years ago.