View Full Version : Reaper Down near Benghazi
https://youtu.be/QR5JHdy7DrM
Saw an article in the Mail thanks to a friend sending a link. (This youtube segment has a Hindustan Times logo. I am not sure of the original source beyond Twitter)
Aviation content, but you may ask: without a pilot on board, is it on topic?
Yes.
(If it turns out that this wasn't a Reaper, but another kind of drone, a correction to the title shall be made).
NutLoose
25th Aug 2022, 01:24
Yes I saw that, I wonder what they used.
Lordflasheart
25th Aug 2022, 16:56
Last time I saw anything like a UAV on patrol down the Libyan coast, it was a Heron. I think there's an Italian coastguard presence which may be part of the EU Frontex Themis program covering the Italy Malta Libya area, working the seaborne refugee problem. They use Heron or possibly Predator, Eurohawk or Patroller, and probably operate from airfields on Sicily, Malta, Pantelleria or Lampedusa.
I would guess that there's nothing hostile or armed about these operations, so possibly this apparent 'shootdown' was some trigger happy trouble shooter who needs a bit of aircraft recognition practice. Even if it was a Predator of that late model, there's nothing to say it was not pre-owned, passed on or rented out.
Once you get beyond the headline, there's a lot of Frontex detail in this article - https://digit.site36.net/2022/08/14/sea-rescue-off-libya-flight-bans-by-tripolis-violate-international-law/
LFH
Lonewolf_50
25th Aug 2022, 21:55
Once you get beyond the headline, there's a lot of Frontex detail in this article - https://digit.site36.net/2022/08/14/sea-rescue-off-libya-flight-bans-by-tripolis-violate-international-law/
LFH Great link, thank you, quite interesting to see once again the folks in Libya trying to assert their airspace as going beyond agreed distances. (In the mid 80's that ended up in tears for the mad Colonel, but we are drifting off topic).