US spy drones 'crashed in Iran'

ABC ^ | 11-8-05

[markedmannerf]

Iran says it has found the wreckage of two US unmanned spy planes on its territory in recent months, accusing the US of violating its sovereignty through illegal overflights.

The Foreign Ministry says Iran "strongly protests against such unlawful acts and emphasises the necessity to observe the principles of international law concerning the sanctity of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states".

The Pentagon has no immediate comment to the protest, which came in letters to the US Government written months ago but only made public at the United Nations on Monday.

They described the crash of a Shadow 200 RQ-7 drone in Ilam Province last July 4, 60 kilometres from the border, and of a Hermes drone in the Khoram Abad area on August 25, found 200 kilometres inside Iranian territory.

The Foreign Ministry says the investigation found that both of the unmanned aircraft were American.

[Chena]

So why do they send terrorists to Iraq then?

Your comment is EXACTLY what I said outloud. Someone needs to tell them they can't have their cake (uranium, or any other kind) and eat it too.

[sgtbono2002]

Well I hope they have IED's on them , it would be great to blow up the buttwipes who are sending IED's to Iraq.

[Arm_Bears]

The Iranian government has as much credibility as The New York Times.

[ghostcat]

Just googled the two UAVs mentioned in the article. What I found indicated that they are odd UAVs to be in that theater, at least being operated by the U.S.. While the U.S. owns both types They don't appear to be in use in Iraq. The RQ-7 Shadow 200 is currently issued to a unit(they only started issuing them about a year ago) that by all indications is stateside and the UAV doesn't have the legs to get to Iran from the U.S.(The air vehicle is intended to provide coverage of a brigade area of interest for up to four hours, at 50 kilometers from the launch and recovery site. The maximum range is 125 kilometers (limited by data link capability)). The second UAV does not appear to be operated by th U.S. military at all, It is the drone that the border patrol is currently using down Texas way.

[xJones]

The Iranian government has as much credibility as The New York Times.

They're somewhere between CBS and the NYT on the negative numbers end of the credibility chart.

[A CA Guy]

I think the Chinese forced them down.

[hosepipe]

[ The Foreign Ministry says Iran "strongly protests against such unlawful acts and emphasises the necessity to observe the principles of international law concerning the sanctity of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states". ]

And they are going to do what about it.?..

[Arm_Bears]

Has a scale been invented that goes that low?

[null and void]

Which reminds me, anyone know anyone who was working on the burrowing bomb?

[ghostcat]

just lifted this data from the manufacturers web site on the Hermes:Performance

Max. mission radius: 200 km
Max. endurance: 20 h
Operational altitude: 18 kft
Max. speed: 95 kts
Cruise speed: 70 kts
Stall speed: 42 kts
Max. rate a climb: 900 fpm

Once again this would not appear to be something that would be where they claimed it to be. It just doesn't have the legs that would be needed.

[xroadie]

Border patrol? I hope its getting better results than we're seeing in Texas!

[ghostcat]

LoL I agree!! I just noticed that I had made a mistake. The border patrol is using them in Arizona, not Texas. But of course we can all see how effective the border patrol is!

[CyberAnt]

To the MAX!! While they're whining about our intruding on their sovereignty .. they are doing worse to Iraq - WHICH IS ALSO A SOVEREIGN COUNTRY.

[BigBobber]

Dear Mr. Foriegn Minister of Iran:

We haven't forgotten 1980. We know you're sending arms and personnel to kill our soldiers in Iraq. Paybacks are a bitch. Be afraid. Be very afraid.

[KoRn]

Seems we lose 2 or 3 of those a year in Iran. Hell, before long they will have enough parts/info to build their very own.

They will be known as: Unmanned Aerial Jihad(UAJ)

[BenLurkin]

Lookout here we come . . .

[RedStateRocker]

Doubt that they'd be much good without the troops to take advantage of the information. I expect the real trick is not in the design so much as in the ability to manufacture and deploy the things.

Still, would be cool if the had a self destruct that activated upon being taken apart.

[Cougar66]

LOL Iran protesting a crashed drone is like a NYC cabbie complainging that someone cut him off: too bad!!

[Cougar66]

Ps give this story one more day before the libs are jumping behind Iran

[daku]

I'm going to have to agree with Iran this one time ...

US should not fly recon drones over their soverign land

ICBMs maybe, but no drones