Yemen.....2
It said the Saudi-led coalition conducted a special operation to evacuate the two pilots who survived the crash.
Were they really pilots, or trying to avoid some loss of face by accepting that they were not?
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Certainly some of the earliest WSOs trained in UK for RSAF Tornados were qualified pilots. I met one lad at Finningley in late 1986 who I had sent first solo nearly two years earlier. The RSAF at the time of signing Al Yamamah 2 had no back seaters at all, at which point of course BAE immediately said 'we will train some for you - give us even more money'.
I believe the initial selection for the back seat had a lot to do with (lack of) family clout and royal influence.
I believe the initial selection for the back seat had a lot to do with (lack of) family clout and royal influence.
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Some helicopter nose-gunners like to call themselves 'co-pilots' too.
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Patriot attacked by Swarm UAVs
HOUTHIS DESTROYED UAE PATRIOT SYSTEM IN CENTRAL YEMEN WITH SWARM OF DRONES – REPORTS
On February 23, an unnamed Yemeni officer told the Yemeni al-Masirah TV that the Yemeni Air Force and the Missile Forces [both allied with the Houthis] had conducted a joint operation and destroyed a MIM-104 Patriot PAC-3 air defense system and a headquarter of the UAE Army in the central Yemeni province of Ma’rib.
According to al-Masirah, Yemeni forces attacked the UAE Army Patriot PAC-3 system with “a swarm of unmanned aerial vehicles [UAVs],” while the UAE Army headquarter was targeted with several ballistic missiles launched by the Yemeni Missile Forces.
The Saudi-led coalition immediately announced that its air defenses in Yemen had intercepted two ballistic missiles, which had been launched by the Houthis over the center of Ma’rib province. However, the collation didn’t report shooting down any UAVs of the Houthis.
Most likely, the Yemenis used a type of suicide UAVs named “Qasef-1” to conduct such attacks. The Qasef-1 is a copy of the Iranian-made “Ababil-2” UAV armed with 30kg warhead, according to a report of the Conflict Armament Research (CAR) group.
The Houthis conducted a similar attack with UAVs and ballistic missiles against a Patriot PAC-3 system of the Saudi Army in the southwestern province of Taiz on February 8. However, the real results of these attacks are yet to be known.
On February 23, an unnamed Yemeni officer told the Yemeni al-Masirah TV that the Yemeni Air Force and the Missile Forces [both allied with the Houthis] had conducted a joint operation and destroyed a MIM-104 Patriot PAC-3 air defense system and a headquarter of the UAE Army in the central Yemeni province of Ma’rib.
According to al-Masirah, Yemeni forces attacked the UAE Army Patriot PAC-3 system with “a swarm of unmanned aerial vehicles [UAVs],” while the UAE Army headquarter was targeted with several ballistic missiles launched by the Yemeni Missile Forces.
The Saudi-led coalition immediately announced that its air defenses in Yemen had intercepted two ballistic missiles, which had been launched by the Houthis over the center of Ma’rib province. However, the collation didn’t report shooting down any UAVs of the Houthis.
Most likely, the Yemenis used a type of suicide UAVs named “Qasef-1” to conduct such attacks. The Qasef-1 is a copy of the Iranian-made “Ababil-2” UAV armed with 30kg warhead, according to a report of the Conflict Armament Research (CAR) group.
The Houthis conducted a similar attack with UAVs and ballistic missiles against a Patriot PAC-3 system of the Saudi Army in the southwestern province of Taiz on February 8. However, the real results of these attacks are yet to be known.
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/b...emen-97v079bln
British commandos shot on secret missions in Yemen
Five special forces commandos have been wounded in gun battles while on secret missions in Yemen.
Members of the Special Boat Service (SBS) were shot while fighting in the Saadah area in the north of the country, according to a report. They clashed with Houthi rebels, who are backed by Iran, and were hit in the arms and legs. The five men, thought to be among 30 Britons operating in Yemen, are back in the UK.
The report is likely to incense critics such as Andrew Mitchell, the former international development secretary, who has accused the UK of complicity in Saudi Arabia’s role in the war..........
The Mail on Sunday quoted an SBS source saying: “The guys are fighting in inhospitable desert and mountainous terrain against highly committed and well-equipped Houthi rebels. The SBS’s role is mainly training and mentoring but on occasions they have found themselves in firefights and some British troops have been shot. A few weeks ago, an SBS guy was shot in the hand and another guy was shot in the leg.”..........
The SBS mentoring teams inside Yemen include medical workers, translators and forward air controllers, whose job is to request air support from the Saudis. The service, which is based in Poole, Dorset, is a 200-strong maritime special forces unit founded in 1940. Most of its recruits are former Royal Marines.
Yesterday it was reported that RAF engineers sent to Saudi Arabia to work on military aircraft sold to the country had evaded an explosion at King Khalid airbase in the southwest last week.
The Ministry of Defence said: “No UK military personnel based in Saudi Arabia have been affected by reported attacks. We take the safety of our personnel extremely seriously and suitable and effective precautions are in place to ensure it.”
British commandos shot on secret missions in Yemen
Five special forces commandos have been wounded in gun battles while on secret missions in Yemen.
Members of the Special Boat Service (SBS) were shot while fighting in the Saadah area in the north of the country, according to a report. They clashed with Houthi rebels, who are backed by Iran, and were hit in the arms and legs. The five men, thought to be among 30 Britons operating in Yemen, are back in the UK.
The report is likely to incense critics such as Andrew Mitchell, the former international development secretary, who has accused the UK of complicity in Saudi Arabia’s role in the war..........
The Mail on Sunday quoted an SBS source saying: “The guys are fighting in inhospitable desert and mountainous terrain against highly committed and well-equipped Houthi rebels. The SBS’s role is mainly training and mentoring but on occasions they have found themselves in firefights and some British troops have been shot. A few weeks ago, an SBS guy was shot in the hand and another guy was shot in the leg.”..........
The SBS mentoring teams inside Yemen include medical workers, translators and forward air controllers, whose job is to request air support from the Saudis. The service, which is based in Poole, Dorset, is a 200-strong maritime special forces unit founded in 1940. Most of its recruits are former Royal Marines.
Yesterday it was reported that RAF engineers sent to Saudi Arabia to work on military aircraft sold to the country had evaded an explosion at King Khalid airbase in the southwest last week.
The Ministry of Defence said: “No UK military personnel based in Saudi Arabia have been affected by reported attacks. We take the safety of our personnel extremely seriously and suitable and effective precautions are in place to ensure it.”
It's turning into the Saudi's Vietnam..........................
Think this is only the beginning of the long discussed RMA (Revolution in Military Affairs).
Courtesy of cheap drones, cheap electronics guidance and GPS targeting, even a non state can inflict serious strategic damage on an adversary.
Of course, knowing the Saudis, it is not impossible that they are accentuating the damage reports in order to increase the pressure on Iran, which is sure to be blamed for facilitating this strike.
Courtesy of cheap drones, cheap electronics guidance and GPS targeting, even a non state can inflict serious strategic damage on an adversary.
Of course, knowing the Saudis, it is not impossible that they are accentuating the damage reports in order to increase the pressure on Iran, which is sure to be blamed for facilitating this strike.
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RMA is too loud a word with regards to such attacks. Maybe in the "3rd world" only. Like Toyota-based "jihadmobiles" used by ISIS instead of IFVs.
For countries with modern air defence, even subsonic cruise missiles is not a big deal.
For countries with modern air defence, even subsonic cruise missiles is not a big deal.
Problem is Van is that RSA have spent a fortune on Air Defence - they just don't have the right sort to stop this sort of thing.
The other is that infrastructure is spread over a very wide area - it's not like defending an airbase or a city - a $1000 drone can take out an electricity pylon in the sticks and close an installation down - and they can do it the next day 20 miles away etc etc etc
The "entry costs" (as an Economist would say) are so low and the technology is so simple it means just about anyone can get involved. See the idiots trying to close down Heathrow this weekend - 5 or 6 protesters who can afford to buy a couple of drones and operate them from a field........
The other is that infrastructure is spread over a very wide area - it's not like defending an airbase or a city - a $1000 drone can take out an electricity pylon in the sticks and close an installation down - and they can do it the next day 20 miles away etc etc etc
The "entry costs" (as an Economist would say) are so low and the technology is so simple it means just about anyone can get involved. See the idiots trying to close down Heathrow this weekend - 5 or 6 protesters who can afford to buy a couple of drones and operate them from a field........
It's strange that a cruise missile can be launched from Yemen on to a target 1,000 kilometres away with a missile that has a cruise speed of 300 km/hr. and an endurance of up to two hours.
Might have had local help.............. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-49705197
One element of the Houthi statement on the attacks did however thank "co-operation with the honourable people inside the kingdom".
The Wall Street Journal has said experts are investigating whether the attacks could have been carried out from the north - either by Iran or its Shia allies in Iraq - using cruise missiles rather than drones. If so, it seems unlikely they would have escaped detection.
The Washington Post said the US government believed that 15 buildings at Abqaiq had been damaged on the west-northwest sides, not the southern sides facing Yemen.
A 2018 UN report concluded that the Houthis' Qatef-1 suicide drone was "virtually identical" to Iran's Ababil-T. The Ababil-T is considered a low-tech drone with a maximum range of about 150km (93 miles). The distance from the nearest point of the Saudi Arabia-Yemen border to the closest target - Khurais - is about 770km. On Sunday, Iraq denied its territory had been used to launch the attacks.
One element of the Houthi statement on the attacks did however thank "co-operation with the honourable people inside the kingdom".
The Wall Street Journal has said experts are investigating whether the attacks could have been carried out from the north - either by Iran or its Shia allies in Iraq - using cruise missiles rather than drones. If so, it seems unlikely they would have escaped detection.
The Washington Post said the US government believed that 15 buildings at Abqaiq had been damaged on the west-northwest sides, not the southern sides facing Yemen.
A 2018 UN report concluded that the Houthis' Qatef-1 suicide drone was "virtually identical" to Iran's Ababil-T. The Ababil-T is considered a low-tech drone with a maximum range of about 150km (93 miles). The distance from the nearest point of the Saudi Arabia-Yemen border to the closest target - Khurais - is about 770km. On Sunday, Iraq denied its territory had been used to launch the attacks.
The current US Govt continues to see every thing through the "IRAN" prism - TBH the Saudis have got themselves stuck in the Yemen swamp (as the Egyptians did years ago) and can't find a way out - that's the trouble when you don't have elections to change the guys behind the policy
The Iranians are just doing what the US did in Afghanistan - a few missiles, some money and you can create all sorts of problems for the those in the swamp. No need to invade - just keep the pot simmering
The Iranians are just doing what the US did in Afghanistan - a few missiles, some money and you can create all sorts of problems for the those in the swamp. No need to invade - just keep the pot simmering
Might have had local help.............. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-49705197
One element of the Houthi statement on the attacks did however thank "co-operation with the honourable people inside the kingdom".
The Wall Street Journal has said experts are investigating whether the attacks could have been carried out from the north - either by Iran or its Shia allies in Iraq - using cruise missiles rather than drones. If so, it seems unlikely they would have escaped detection.
The Washington Post said the US government believed that 15 buildings at Abqaiq had been damaged on the west-northwest sides, not the southern sides facing Yemen.
A 2018 UN report concluded that the Houthis' Qatef-1 suicide drone was "virtually identical" to Iran's Ababil-T. The Ababil-T is considered a low-tech drone with a maximum range of about 150km (93 miles). The distance from the nearest point of the Saudi Arabia-Yemen border to the closest target - Khurais - is about 770km. On Sunday, Iraq denied its territory had been used to launch the attacks.
One element of the Houthi statement on the attacks did however thank "co-operation with the honourable people inside the kingdom".
The Wall Street Journal has said experts are investigating whether the attacks could have been carried out from the north - either by Iran or its Shia allies in Iraq - using cruise missiles rather than drones. If so, it seems unlikely they would have escaped detection.
The Washington Post said the US government believed that 15 buildings at Abqaiq had been damaged on the west-northwest sides, not the southern sides facing Yemen.
A 2018 UN report concluded that the Houthis' Qatef-1 suicide drone was "virtually identical" to Iran's Ababil-T. The Ababil-T is considered a low-tech drone with a maximum range of about 150km (93 miles). The distance from the nearest point of the Saudi Arabia-Yemen border to the closest target - Khurais - is about 770km. On Sunday, Iraq denied its territory had been used to launch the attacks.
Saudi's will find this will be happening again and again.