When there is much better money in the arms business, and they apparently had the means and know-how to just whip up a fully functional portable laser gun using scrap and a diamond they found in the field. The laser was powerful enough to even shoot a satellite in the sky. Hell, imagine if they really put their minds into it if that is what they come up with when they aren't even trying.

Also, while I'm here, since the Zaire people were so keen and hellbent on shooting down anything that was flying, wouldn't that hot air balloon be easier to shoot down than those planes they kept shooting down.