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An AH-64 Apache. Click photo to view. |
Posted on 02/07/2007 10:39:00 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach
Al-Qaeda in Iraq is believed to be operating Strela missile teams, courtesy of Iran
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An AH-64 Apache. Click photo to view. |
The past three weeks has seen a dramatic increase in the downing of U.S. helicopters operating in central Iraq. Five helos have been shot down since January 20th, four U.S. Army helos and a civilian Blackwater helo. Twenty-six Americans have been killed in the five shoot-downs.
The five helicopters lost represents ten percent of all such aircraft lost since Operation Iraqi Freedom began, with fifty total lost. The timing and increase in downed helos is no accident, American military and intelligence sources inform us.
Al-Qaeda in Iraq is believed to be behind four of the five shoot-downs: the CH-46 transport in Karma, February 7th (7 killed); the Apache attack helicopter in Taji, February 2 (2 killed); the Blackwater OH-6A observation helicopter in Baghdad, January 23 (5 civilians killed), and the Blackhawk transport in Diyala, January 20 (12 killed). The three military helos are thought to have been brought down by a sholder fired anti-aircraft weapon, while the Blackwater bird was thought to have been brought down by small arms fire. The January 28 Apache shoot-down in Najaf, with 2 killed, is believed to be caused by the Soldiers of Heaven cult.
The two military and intelligence sources believe al-Qaeda has organized a grouping of cells, whose purpose is to deny Coalition forces the free use of helicopters to ferry troops, resupply outlying areas, and conduct assault missions. Al-Qaeda wants to force Coalition forces to use ground transportation, where it believes heavier casualties can be inflicted on U.S. forces via roadside bombing and mine attacks (IEDs). Helicpoter shoot-downs also "make for compelling television," according to a military source, which "helps project the image of a deadly, unbeatable enemy." Al-Qaeda is believed to have deployed multiple anti-aircraft cells along the known overflight routes in and around Baghdad.
The cells are thought to be armed with Russian made Strela SA-7 anti-aircraft missiles, a first generation shoulder fired anti-aircraft missile which is widely distributed throughout the world. These weapons are not as sophisticated as U.S. made Stingers, which were used with deadly consequences by mujahideen in Afghanistan against Soviet fixed and rotary wing aircraft. U.S. aircraft have systems to deter missile threats (jammers, flairs, chaff) but there are no reports these systems were deployed during any of the engagements.
Al-Qaeda in Iraq, via its political mouthpiece the Islamic State in Iraq, has taken credit for two of the kills. Al-Qaeda gloated it shot down the Apache in Taji, and even released a video of the Apache being taken down. Al-Qaeda in Iraq has also claimed credit for today's downing of the CH-46 transport in Karma.
In the past, al-Qaeda was largely limited to deploying anti-aircraft missiles to protect command and leadership assets. MANPADs were in view in Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's last video before his death. When U.S. forces were hunting Zarqawi in Yusifiyah, several helicopters were brought down during the battles.
It is surprising al-Qaeda has not made a more concerted effort to bring down Coalition aircraft. The military, political, and propaganda value of destroying U.S. helicopters is too great to be ignored. It has been speculated al-Qaeda in Iraq didn't possess enough weapons systems or training to effectively field the missiles.
The suspicion is the Islamic Republic of Iran is behind supplying al-Qaeda with the needed weapons, training and logistical support to supply and field a successful anti-aircraft force, much as the United States provided the mujahideen with Stingers in Afghanistan in the 1980s.
fyi
Bomb Bomb Bomb, Bomb Bomb Iran (big time).
whats the price of 1 machine and 7 American lives? for one strella?
someone should take the wind out of their suppliers sails.
Exactly, if we lose a chopper, we should take out an Iranian air field. We see a vehicle coming across the border, we take out the vehicle and wherever it came from. They need to learn to fear getting involved.
The suspicion is the Islamic Republic of Iran is behind supplying al-Qaeda with the needed weapons...I think the thing to do would be to remove US troops from the Balkans, and watch as the Iranians flood in there. The EU's opposition to military action against Iran will evaporate quickly -- or there will burning cars across Euro-countries other than France.
i think the price of intermeddling should be higher. 10 fold the losses to the humanitarian efforts in ME democracy.
IMO
Taking all these punches from Iran without payback is getting old. Decades old.
Doesn't seem to bother those on the left!
Have to agree with number three ... bomb the hell out of them to get their attention. There is a world wide war for the dominance of civilizations afoot. Do we want to lose that to fourteenth century primitives waging war against Western Civilization?
perhaps our role should be crusaders?
Well and truly stated!
Defending America isn't a Democratic's concern.
The SA-7, HN-5, and the various Ayn as Saqr variants only have 2.5 pounds of high explosive. They seek out tailpipes.
One quick field response would be to weld longer exhausts down and away from one side of each helicopter. 10 feet away from the engine/fuel tank/cockpit would make a world of difference against 2.5 pounds of HE.
The launchers for those missiles have passive radio frequency receivers that point the operator toward an aircraft that is transmiting radio, has a Mode-3 or later transponder, or has an active radar. May have to turn those off for a while, boys.
Also, keep in mind that Al Qaeda was working on a chain-based ground system in Iraq to take out helicopters, plus Iran is fielding air-burst proximity-fused RPG's.
Owning the skies doesn't mean that you own the dust-zones. Helicopters are vulnerable to these new threats. Just as cavalry adapted in the past, obseleting old horses and embracing new modes of transportation, so too may we have to do it again (and expect similar levels of b!tc#ing from the horse lovers).
FYI, passive radio frequency receivers were what Hezbollah used last year to roughly track the location/direction of Israel's tanks in Lebanon...
So passive radio frequency receivers aren't just being used against our helicopters in Iraq.
The amount of over due payback soon to be directed at Iran's terrorist thugs is mounting with each passing day.
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