Iraqi ultralights spotted over U.S. troops

Army Times ^ | March 29, 2003 | By Sean D. Naylor

[Bayou City]

CENTRAL IRAQ

[Bayou City]

The flights over this area yesterday were probably for the purpose of strategic reconnaissance, “scouting out the sexiest targets to strike with surface-to-surface missiles,” Ryals said.

Makes me wonder now if the Chinese cruise missile fired into Kuwait yesterday served a dual pupose, testing our air defence systems for launches on our soldiers.

Does any know if thier cruise missiles can carry chem or bio warheads?

[dagar]

Most anything can... however, the effective deliverery is always the question. Hopefully the answer is NO on effective!

[zarf]

Yeah, some raghead in an ultralight flew it into the side of the Country Music Hall of Fame screaming he hated Hank Williams....Nashville's version of 9/11....

[oceanview]

its is unreal that we did not shoot this down. unreal. we keep reading about chem and bio weapons, about how we own the skies, and then we let this thing get away.

[struwwelpeter]

Ruff!

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

Interesting.

[x1stcav]

Let's see. Two ultra-lights, with top speeds of what 60-80 knots, are detected and there wasn't one gunship, or even an armed transport chopper, to scramble and give chase?

I'm assuming everybody was simply taken aback by the effrontery of the Iraqi action and next time will have the good sense to blow them out of the sky.

[jwalsh07]

“If I had authority to shoot it myself, we would have engaged it,” he said. But he added that he understood why he was required to seek approval from a three-star headquarters before shooting at an enemy aircraft that was virtually overhead. “A lot of it has to do with cluttered skies,” Smith said. “There are a lot of friendly aircraft in these skies.”

The 3 star needs to change the ROE and he needed to do it yesterday.

Sheesh.

[guitfiddlist]

I used to own an ultralight, and they are no substitute for a combat aircraft. Designed with a top cruising speed of 55 mph and with zero pilot protection, once the troops get local clearance to take out ultralights - they won't try that gimmick again.

[FreedomCalls]

But even though at least one of the ultralights was in the targets of his gunners, procedures here require that a higher command, in this case V Corps, gives the approval to shoot. The aircraft disappeared beyond the horizon while that permission was being sought.

Armstrong and his soldiers were “very frustrated,” he said. Smith acknowledged that the failure to attack it was frustrating.

“If I had authority to shoot it myself, we would have engaged it,” he said.

This is really bad news. Reminds me of the McNamara days at the Pentagon. We must let the soldiers fight the war. We cannot allow the perfumed princes to attempt to control every decision about the war from far away in Qatar.

[Dialup Llama]

>Authorities here have made two key changes in the wake of the yesterday’s overflights. “Something is being worked on right now to help someone looking at a radar air picture determine which track is the ultralight,” Smith said. And if another ultralight appears overhead, Smith and other air defense commanders now have the authority to shoot on sight.

You needed to take a committee vote to figure that out?

[GreyWolf]

WTFO! We own the air and we let not one but two aircraft get within reach of our guys. They had better WTFU and start taking this sh!t series.

[musicman]

They had to ASK to get PERMISSION to shoot it down????.....

...gee....bet the craft "operators" are enjoying this "report"......

[Dialup Llama]

>“If I had authority to shoot it myself, we would have engaged it,” he said.

I presume you have standing orders to engage the enemy. I can't belive I'm reading this!

[Dog Gone]

The command did not order all phones shut down, just those using the Thuraya satellite. That system is based in the United Arab Emirates and is Arab owned.

Hmmmm

[Starrgaizr]

They flew off before the anti-aircraft crews could get permission to shoot them down.

That will read differently the next time, I hope.

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

The aircraft disappeared beyond the horizon while that permission was being sought.

What the hell is going on here?

This guy was obviously a forward observer for whatever .

[MississippiMan]

They flew off before the anti-aircraft crews could get permission to shoot them down.

Anyone else see the glaringly obvious problem here?

MM

[MississippiMan]

once the troops get local clearance to take out ultralights - they won't try that gimmick again.

You forget that many of these morons don't mind dying as long as they can kill a few of us in the process.

MM

[First_Salute]

Two 3rd Infantry Division Apaches were also diverted to search for the aircraft, Smith said.

About 30 minutes later came a report that OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) had seen an ultralight 25 miles south of here, Smith said. But the 101st helicopters apparently did not follow the ultralight, for reasons Smith said he could not explain.

I repeat myself.

The "higher ups" want to use the Apache and Cobra helicopters for attack, but we need these helicopters more for patrol.

We are losing people because they do not have the supporting area vision for their ground units that the "new Army," with fewer ground troops, is supposed to have via helicopters.

Furthermore, no supply convoy or repair mission should be without a helo escort.

We are going to need hundreds of helicopters for these purposes, when we go into Baghdad; not to mention that, there, we will need a large supply of replacement helicopters, because we may lose a lot of helicopters in order to save many more of our ground troops.