Go Back  PPRuNe Forums > Aircrew Forums > Military Aviation
Reload this Page >

Fears for Pentagon air power as Iran claims drone capture

Military Aviation A forum for the professionals who fly military hardware. Also for the backroom boys and girls who support the flying and maintain the equipment, and without whom nothing would ever leave the ground. All armies, navies and air forces of the world equally welcome here.

Fears for Pentagon air power as Iran claims drone capture

Old 8th Dec 2011, 23:11
  #121 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Brum
Posts: 852
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Why am I on the other side of the world?
How many Brums are there...?
Nige321 is offline  
Old 8th Dec 2011, 23:19
  #122 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Australia - South of where I'd like to be !
Age: 59
Posts: 4,261
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Nige321

Re " Why am I on the other side of the world?
How many Brums are there...?"


My bad, I am located on the other side of the world - as in Australia, that location often called "Down Under".

I am a POM, born in Birmingham, lived close by. Do you just live in Brum or were you born there ?


And re "How many Brums are there...?", I know of at least one Birmingham in the US, which from memory is in Alabama.
500N is offline  
Old 8th Dec 2011, 23:53
  #123 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: California
Posts: 132
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Those overwing "lumps" appear assymetrical.

And that dude's hat is just all wrong.
TheWestCoast is offline  
Old 8th Dec 2011, 23:58
  #124 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Malkin Tower
Posts: 847
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
so is the "aircraft". That protective grille over the engine intake isn't much more than concrete reinforcement wire
jamesdevice is offline  
Old 9th Dec 2011, 00:18
  #125 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Lincs
Posts: 2,307
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Higher resolution images at following links.

http://cencio4.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/damage.jpg

http://cencio4.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/1.jpg

http://cencio4.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/2.jpg

http://cencio4.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/3.jpg

http://cencio4.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/4.jpg

From

Exclusive: first high-resolution close-up pictures of the stealth drone in Iran. With signs of belly landing. « The Aviationist
TEEEJ is offline  
Old 9th Dec 2011, 00:34
  #126 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Malkin Tower
Posts: 847
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
its not big enough
the RQ-170 is variously reported as 26-28 metres in wingspan
Thats barely 28 FEET across.
Either is a 1/3 scale model or its a previously unreported drone
If its a model, who made it? Who is behind the disinformation?

Looking at it, one gets the impression that it doesn't have enough space to carry the fuel for a long range jet engined mission.
jamesdevice is offline  
Old 9th Dec 2011, 00:47
  #127 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Australia - South of where I'd like to be !
Age: 59
Posts: 4,261
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
james
If it is a model, anybody could have made it pretty quickly.
A skilled worker with either fibreglass, carbon fibre, resin,
slap it together, bog it up, sand it, prime it and paint it.

Send it to China and they would have a finished model back to you in a week,
at the same time asking how many thousands you want.

"With signs of belly landing"
Who is pulling what ?

One dark patch on the edge of a wing does not show signs of a belly landing.
it could be anything.


Re "Looking at it, one gets the impression that it doesn't have enough space to carry the fuel for a long range jet engined mission. "

Going with your theory which I think MIGHT have some merit, it doesn't need to do a long range jet engined mission, it only had to take off from Afghan and fly a couple of hundred kms to Iran, if that. (I don't know the distances from the airfields in Afghan to the Iranian border or just across it).

Just my HO.
.
500N is offline  
Old 9th Dec 2011, 00:54
  #128 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Malkin Tower
Posts: 847
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
" it only had to take off from Afghan and fly a couple of hundred kms to Iran"
And thats assuming it wasn't simply chucked out the back of a C-130 or C-17

the big question is...... is it an an Iranian fake or a CIA fake?

Last edited by jamesdevice; 9th Dec 2011 at 01:05.
jamesdevice is offline  
Old 9th Dec 2011, 01:10
  #129 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2000
Posts: 665
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Wouldn't it be wonderful to find out that a couple of bored to snores USAF noncommissioned techies slapped it all together in the fibreglass shop and dumped it off the ramp of a Herc near the Iranian border and are now sitting back in Kandahar enjoying the fun?

It wouldn't be the first time someone has done such things. (I'll bet a rather large sum that there are a lot of people in Washington currently wishing to God that this was so!!!)
Andu is offline  
Old 9th Dec 2011, 01:18
  #130 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Australia - South of where I'd like to be !
Age: 59
Posts: 4,261
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
"" it only had to take off from Afghan and fly a couple of hundred kms to Iran"
And thats assuming it wasn't simply chucked out the back of a C-130 or C-17

the big question is...... is it an an Iranian fake or a CIA fake?"


I was going to put something about throwing it out the back of a Herc or C17
but then decided against it.

How is this for a scenario ? (Assuming the US C-130's can install the rollers in the back like we can on Aust C-130's.)

Load up the Drone on one of those pallets (like you load up a Zodiac Inflatable for a para load follow), explosive bolts on the pallet connected to an altimeter.

Push the whole thing out, Parachute opens (you hope, it gets very messy if they don't), the whole lot floats down, altimeter sets off explosive bolts so the pallet drops away, Drone still attached to parachute continues float down, at 20 feet or so, explosive bolts jettison the parachute and the device drops to earth, breaks the undercarriage thereby providing a few scratch marks on the belly to make it look like a semi crash landing.

Parachute blows off into the distance never to be seen again or connected to the drone.

Re " Iranian fake or a CIA fake"

Iran and the CIA are working together to dupe the world


Jesus, I sound like SAM

I think I better get my coat and Tin foil hat after that effort !
500N is offline  
Old 9th Dec 2011, 01:23
  #131 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Malkin Tower
Posts: 847
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
oh bugger theres a black Range Rover outside...

mind you, last time I had to have words with "the ministry" they were driving a rusty red Montego with a Rover V8 somehow fitted in
So maybe its a false alarm
jamesdevice is offline  
Old 9th Dec 2011, 01:26
  #132 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Australia - South of where I'd like to be !
Age: 59
Posts: 4,261
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The writing on the banners says

“We’ll trample America underfoot” and “The U.S. cannot do a damn thing.”


Andu
I like the thought process, that would be funny.
500N is offline  
Old 9th Dec 2011, 01:31
  #133 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Malkin Tower
Posts: 847
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
now all we need is for the yanks to admit its a fake. Even if its not
It makes the Iranians look like dickheads either way for believing it
jamesdevice is offline  
Old 9th Dec 2011, 04:42
  #134 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Canada
Age: 63
Posts: 5,169
Received 133 Likes on 60 Posts
The only real "drone" here is from the moronic commentary from the TV talking heads.

To think the Iranians can pass off a model worthy of one of the lamer "Star Trek" episodes circa 1967, and the main stream media are calling it the "real thing", boggles the mind
Big Pistons Forever is offline  
Old 9th Dec 2011, 08:36
  #135 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Germany
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Horten HO 229

By the way: For me the resemblance to the Horten HO 229 is very obvious.
It flew (manned) in 1944 and was designed for Stealth operation.

Horten Ho 229 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pittsle is offline  
Old 9th Dec 2011, 08:41
  #136 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Hampton, UK
Age: 45
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
What I find interesting and supportive of these suggestions is that the photos are only of the exterior. Iran's claims seem to be over having found the airframe overlooking the fact this is meant to be a secret "spy drone".

Where are photos of, or even suggestions that they have, anything from the inside? Engine parts, landing gear, let alone any "secret" recon, satcom or uplink equipment.

Even if some parts have been shipped to China or Russia I can't imagine they'd want the collection of scrap metal which always falls out of a crashed aircraft.

Something in this story is missing.
MrWomble is offline  
Old 9th Dec 2011, 10:17
  #137 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Melbourne,Vic,Australia
Posts: 423
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Something happened involving a UAV, sources are:

Iran - not credible C4
USA - even less credible D5
Deaf is offline  
Old 9th Dec 2011, 10:40
  #138 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Nomadic
Posts: 1,343
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
You guys DO know that the Iranians DO have an RPA program....They DO have relatively sophisticated UAS, and DO have knowledge and application of Stealth........Don't you.
L J R is offline  
Old 9th Dec 2011, 11:33
  #139 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Quote via Bloomberg...


The Pentagon and the Central Intelligence Agency declined to comment yesterday on whether the aircraft the Iranians displayed is real. A U.S. defense official, however, said the plane appears to be an actual RQ-170, though he said U.S. experts were still examining the video.

Two U.S. officials with knowledge of the RQ-170 program said that some details, including the seams on the drone’s fuselage, its access ports and its unusual air intake, appear to confirm that it’s genuine.

Iran Shows Off Downed U.S. Spy Drone on TV - Bloomberg
dc1968 is offline  
Old 9th Dec 2011, 12:03
  #140 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Torquay, England
Posts: 838
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
This is reminding me of all the hysteria regarding the demise of Bin Laden..

'He is not dead and if he is produce the body'..

When the pictures are shown of the body we then here screams about..

'It could be an impersonator and this is all just a US publicity stunt!'

To ask for Iran to produce the inner workings of that aircraft is probably NOT going to happen and who knows where those parts are or even what country they are in.

Does anyone SERIOUSLY believe that
a) Iran would be so silly as to produce a home made fibre glass replica of something they had not seen?

b) Would the USA over fly Iranian air space with a toy replica full of advanced technology just to 'fool' the opposition?

With the greatest of respect to all our resident experts:

c)How long would it take for Iran to figure out they had only captured a toy replica?

Iran had this thing in their possession days before they went public and I am guessing they were not playing tiddly winks during that period.

I am NOT saying you folks are wrong when you suggest this is a fake but the reasons for your suppositions make no real sense especially as both parties are in agreement about this captured vehicle. One side states one of theirs is missing over Iran and the other side claimed to have captured it days before the US came clean!

How often have we heard the US denying their aircraft have been shot down and the reasons for it crashing were due to technical issues?? Yes a thousand times yes we all accept that drones along with other aircraft do have technical issues, but to me this thing was very cleverly captured by Iran and it looks like they hit the jackpot by capturing a state of the art RQ-170.

My main concern is why there appears to be no inbuilt technology that destroys the thing if anyone attempts to meddle with it.

I do have an open mind regarding this things authenticity but so far the observations being forwarded to denounce it are less than convincing. The exterior material looks so cheap and the lines just look so amateurish, but who am I to judge what is real and what is false.
glojo is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.