One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Missile Launch Was A Secret So The Chinese And Russians Wouldn't Know, Says Expert
(Photo courtesy of Preston Newman of Preston Newman Photography / @Newman_Photos)
Saturday night's UFO missile test by the Navy was kept a secret from us because the government didn't want China or Russia to know either.That's what Loren Thompson, a military analyst with the thinktank The Lexington Institute, told the L.A. Times, saying that the only people given advance warning are mostly aviation officials who had to make sure no plans would be in the way of any missiles. In fact, the FAA warned pilots on Friday to avoid flying over the Pacific from LAX and apologized to residents in the adjacent neighborhoods for the extra noise.
If any of our enemies knew in advance, they could easily monitor the launch and gather sensitive information.
"Strategic Systems Programs does not routinely announce missile testing," the Navy said in a statement after the test. "Information regarding the test launch of Trident II (D5) missiles is classified prior to the launch."
And while there was bound to be reports of a UFO and speculation among the general public—particularly in the social media age—after a missile test, the Navy did not anticipate that much of a spectacle. It turns out the timing was perfect for such a light show, since the Trident missile was launched just after sunset, reflecting a lot of the sunlight and creating the images we saw all over the Internet. Had they known, said Navy spokesman John Daniels, they would have been quicker with an official statement.
Sightings of the missile were reported throughout Southern California, in parts of Arizona and Nevada, and as far north as San Francisco, says CBS Los Angeles.
The airspace over LAX will continued to be diverted until Thursday, so keep your eyes to the night sky, Los Angeles.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
