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Israeli F-16 downs UFO flying too close to Dimona
F-16.net ^ | December 17, 2010 | Lieven Dewitte

Posted on 12/18/2010 8:41:30 PM PST by Excuse_My_Bellicosity

December 17, 2010 (by Lieven Dewitte) - The Israeli air force yesterday shot down what seems to have been a balloon that flew over the country's secretive Dimona nuclear reactor site.

An army spokeswoman confirmed an object, "probably a balloon", was shot down after being detected in the area of the southern Dead Sea, which is near the reactor.

There were reports the military was checking if the object was on a photographic mission of the installation. Some reports said the balloon had a motor.

Israel's Negev Nuclear Research Centre, which is closed to international inspection and where Israel is believed to have built more than 200 nuclear weapons, is located about ten miles south-east of the town of Dimona.

Construction on the Dimona reactor began in 1958, and it became operational in 1963. Israel enforces a strict airspace quarantine in the area of the facility as they consider the desert reactor a prime target for attack by its enemies.

In October 2009 IAF fighter jets were scrambled to escort an ultralight plane that veered off the permitted flight zone near the Dimona nuclear research center and got too close to the sensitive site. The jets forced the plane to land near Arad.

During the 1967 Middle East war, an Israeli surface-to-air missile downed a crippled Israeli fighter-bomber that strayed into the restricted zone. Its pilot was killed.

In yesterday's incident, it was decided to down the object with a missile fired by an F-16 after it became clear it was unmanned and the reason for its presence was uncertain.

Air space in the Arava area was closed during the incident, and all flights between Tel Aviv and Eilat were halted. After the balloon was shot down and verified that it was no threat, flights were resumed. Search parties are currently scouring the area where the balloon fell to verify exactly what it was.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government; Israel; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: iaf; ufo
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Looks like the trial balloon didn't make it.
1 posted on 12/18/2010 8:41:36 PM PST by Excuse_My_Bellicosity
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To: Quix; SonOfDarkSkies
This-sounds-familiar ping.


Frowning takes 68 muscles.
Smiling takes 6.
Pulling this trigger takes 2.
I'm lazy.

2 posted on 12/18/2010 8:46:39 PM PST by The Comedian (Government: Saving people from freedom since time immemorial.)
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To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity


3 posted on 12/18/2010 8:47:52 PM PST by narses ( 'Prefer nothing to the love of Christ.')
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To: The Comedian

Shooting down UFO’s or even mentioning that one is in the air close to a military base is forbidden here.


4 posted on 12/18/2010 8:49:12 PM PST by B4Ranch (Do NOT remain seated until this ride comes to a full and complete stop! We're going the wrong way!)
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To: B4Ranch

I won’t believe it until Art Bell says so :)


5 posted on 12/18/2010 8:51:16 PM PST by ak267
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To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity

Do they by chance call the shoot down location...... Area 51?


6 posted on 12/18/2010 8:51:39 PM PST by Gator113 (Sarah Palin can win, and she will win.)
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To: Sparky1776; militant2; TaMoDee; freedumb2003; PERKY2004

F-16 ping?


7 posted on 12/18/2010 8:53:08 PM PST by Jet Jaguar (WE'RE SCREWED '08)
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To: ak267

276, “I won’t believe it ...til Art Bell say it so.

Turo has transferred to area 52. Outlook not so good.

R.


8 posted on 12/18/2010 8:58:50 PM PST by Rabin
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To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity
Looks like the trial balloon didn't make it.

I think it's safer to use a lead balloon when you are around radioactive things.

9 posted on 12/18/2010 8:59:51 PM PST by the invisib1e hand (oy. Again I say, oy.)
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To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity

10 posted on 12/18/2010 9:02:57 PM PST by Bloody Sam Roberts (Inspiration. The momentary cessation of stupidity.)
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To: the invisib1e hand
I think it's safer to use a lead balloon when you are around radioactive things.

That wouldn't go over well.

11 posted on 12/18/2010 9:03:45 PM PST by Bloody Sam Roberts (Inspiration. The momentary cessation of stupidity.)
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To: Jet Jaguar

>>F-16 ping?<<

Sure, why not?

I don’t know who runs the UFO anal probe ping list...


12 posted on 12/18/2010 9:05:18 PM PST by freedumb2003 (Nothing sharpens the mind like not being able to get a job. /Nonstatist)
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To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity
Was Dennis Kucinich out on a joyride?
13 posted on 12/18/2010 9:10:46 PM PST by Army Air Corps (Four fried chickens and a coke)
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To: B4Ranch
Shooting down UFO’s or even mentioning that one is in the air close to a military base is forbidden here.

Only if gay... ;-)

14 posted on 12/18/2010 9:13:25 PM PST by Gondring (Paul Revere would have been flamed as a naysayer troll and told to go back to Boston.)
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To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity

15 posted on 12/18/2010 9:14:51 PM PST by apastron (I miss the good old days - when bankers just jumped out of a window...)
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To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity

F-15, F-16, whatever it takes


16 posted on 12/18/2010 9:20:18 PM PST by NonValueAdded (Palin 2012: don't retreat, just reload)
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To: Gondring

That’s right. The new laws are in place.


17 posted on 12/18/2010 9:49:38 PM PST by B4Ranch (Do NOT remain seated until this ride comes to a full and complete stop! We're going the wrong way!)
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To: freedumb2003

LOL


18 posted on 12/18/2010 9:51:42 PM PST by Jet Jaguar (WE'RE SCREWED '08)
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To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity

An F 16 using a missile to down a balloon?

Seems an odd weapon system for the task. If you’re trying to capture the target to investigate what it is, blowing it into little pieces with a supersonic missile doesn’t sound helpful.


19 posted on 12/18/2010 9:57:12 PM PST by lurk
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To: narses


20 posted on 12/18/2010 10:10:30 PM PST by cynwoody
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