Iran fires on drone

[dead_pan]

Tricky target even for an unmanoeuvrable type such as the Frogfoot, given the Predator is small and skinny. In my expert opinion he should have lowered the gears and flaps and formated behind the Predator before letting rip - works quite well on my Flight Sim when engaging helis...

[Pontius Navigator]

DP, not sure about unmanoeuvrable, but the rest of what you said is undoubtedly true and points up probable engagement issues using a high performance fighter and IR missiles.

[dead_pan]

The first thing an operator in Nevada might know about being engaged, particularly with guns - could be when their screen suddenly turns to static.

Would be a nice touch if the operator was presented with a 'Game Over' message.

[TEEEJ]

OK465,
They are operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Air Force. These chaps are a bit more zealous in confrontations with Coalition forces. There have probably been countless example of the IRIAF conducting intercepts without incident.

Aerospace Force of the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Iranian Revolutionary Guards Su-25s. They operate a mix of ex-Iraqi and Russian supplied.

Photos: Sukhoi Su-25UBK Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net

Photos: Sukhoi Su-25K Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net

[Lonewolf_50]

For HAS59:

What was the Predator doing there?

ISR is the typical mission. No reason to believe it was doing anything else.

Surely there are a host of other assets doing the recce job better/as well as.

Pred dwell time is quite good. Depending upon what your area of interest is, and what your area of desired covereage is, and what the commander needs, this Pred just might be the best asset for a given tasking.

I have a bad feeling that it was just 'bait'.

Maybe. More likely, Pred in question was keeping an eye on some things the local commander needed or wanted to keep an eye on. (Local goes up to "theater" commander in this sense).

Are the US going to send another UAV (not drone - please) to violate Persian airspace and stir things up again?

Given that this one did not violate Persian airspace, what are you talking about? (You may wish to read the original article again).

iRaven: the story you cited presents us with the story of the Foxbat having downed a Pred, just as the Russians did with the Georgian UAV. I find the prediction given by Lilly to be fatuous and optimistic, however, depending upon how one arms a Pred, some organic Air to Air capability being carried could be a handy mission kit. Depends on the mission and scenario.

Why limit one's self if one can make it work? No reason I can think of.

[hval]

Phalconphixer,

Here was me thinking the guy in your photograph wearing combats was surrendering to the UAV

[TEEEJ]

Excellent documentary from PressTV on the F-14 during the Iran-Iraq conflict. I was pleasantly surprised as it is not the usual propaganda heavy documentary from the Iranians. Excellent input from Aircrew and Fighter Controllers.

[Rogan82]

There was a story of RAAF Sabers trying to shoot down an Auster that had gotten away from
It's pilot during a hand start. They tried to shoot this vey slow target, run out of bullets and went home. Had to call in the Navy Sea furies to finish the job. Maybe if the Iranians had some old Iraqi furies they may have got their first US air to air kill.

[Andu]

I think the RAAF used Meatboxes, (Meteors), Rogan, but otherwise, your account is accurate. What hurt even more - the Navy Sea Fury driver who succeeded in shooting the Auster down was the Brit (RN) exchange pilot. Oh, the shame for us Colonials!

[FODPlod]

Originally Posted by Andu

...the Navy Sea Fury driver who succeeded in shooting the Auster down was the Brit (RN) exchange pilot...

You don't say.

[HAS59]

For Lonewolf_50

Thank you for your comments.

What I should have written re incursion was,

'Are the US going to send another UAV this time to violate Persian airspace and stir things up again?'

I was thinking along the lines of the USS Vincennes incident.
(Captain Rogers & Iran Air Flight 655 3 July 1988).

[dat581]

So you are linking a tragic incident 24 years ago to a UAV buzzing about in international airspace monitoring a choke point? I would say the Americans are extremely carefull to keep out of Iranian airspace for a number of reasons. Linking these two events is borderline trolling.

[HAS59]

for DAT581

Sorry mate I have no intention to upset or be disrespectful.

My fear was that one perhaps overzealous act by either the US or Iran in this incident could have provoked an unreasonable response.

Equally any encroachment of Iranian airspace by another US UAV however well intentioned could be problematic.

I would like to think that the US would have learned from past experiences in this region.

[racedo]

So you are linking a tragic incident 24 years ago to a UAV buzzing about in international airspace monitoring a choke point? I would say the Americans are extremely carefull to keep out of Iranian airspace for a number of reasons. Linking these two events is borderline trolling.

Can we see the track of the UAV to know whether it was or was not in Iranian airspace ?

Iranians could have shot it down but maybe they went with the orders of not to but to ensure that the US knew they could.

In this way its seen as a minor incident rather than as a major one.

[Just This Once...]

dead_pan
Tricky target even for an unmanoeuvrable type such as the Frogfoot, given the Predator is small and skinny.

In my limited exposure to the Frogfoot I would describe the manoeuvrability as superb.

[flydive1]

I seem to remember a story about a F-94 that stalled and crashed slowing down trying to shoot down a Po-2 during the Korean war.

[500N]

The original PPrune thread

http://www.pprune.org/dg-p-general-a...ey-1955-a.html



This makes quite funny reading.
The Runaway Auster - Story of a pilotless aeroplane