A US Navy MQ-4C Triton has been shot down by an Iranian surface to air missile while in international airspace over the Strait of Hormuz, a US official has said.
Iranian state media however quoted Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as saying it had downed a drone when it entered Iranian airspace near the Kouhmobarak district north of the Strait of Hormuz.
This is the second time in a week the US has announced that Iran has attacked one of its drones.
According to a statement from US Central Command issued on the 16th, an MQ-9 was also attacked:
“According to our assessment, a modified Iranian SA-7 surface-to-air missile attempted to shoot down a U.S. MQ-9, at 6:45 a.m. local time, June 13, over the Gulf of Oman, to disrupt surveillance of the IRGC attack on the M/T Kokuka Courageous.
Subsequent analysis indicates that this was a likely attempt to shoot down or otherwise disrupt the MQ-9 surveillance of the IRGC attack on the M/T Kokuka Courageous.”
The Triton is a high altitude long endurance aircraft that will be used for maritime patrol and other surveillance roles.
Supporting missions up to 24 hours, the Triton is equipped with a sensor suite that provides a 360-degree view of its surroundings for over 2000 nautical miles.
The Triton builds on elements of the Global Hawk UAS, with reinforcements to the airframe and wing.
This incident will likely escalate tensions further.
An expensive outcome as well.
At $120 million a pop you’re not wrong there!
I wonder if the wreckage has been recovered yet… and if it fell in international waters or Iranian? I imagine some of the equipment would be rather sensitive.
I would assume some sort of auto destruct facility is in place for sensitive high end UAV’s like the Triton.
At least some sort of localised explosive charge for the classified avionics that you certainly wouldn’t want to fall into the hands of the Russians or Chinese.
Best not to assume anything. What you’d think would be a common sense thing is often left out of military hardware for whatever reasons. Like not equipping a $130 million UAV with some sort of ECM.
Google:
“Everything We Know About Iran’s Claim That It Shot Down A U.S. RQ-4 Global Hawk Drone”
For a little more info on the subject
They don’t care. It’s only taxpayer money. lol
This is getting seriously scary. If it doesn’t calm down I wonder what it will do to Emirates Airlines revenues. I’ve got a flight booked through Dubai in October and I confess that I would have some concerns if this situation gets any hotter especially with the reminder of MH-17 back in the news yesterday.
Dito. Im off to africa via dubai in 5 weeks… Maybe… All good
Iran, ruled by Mad Mullahs of 6th-century thinking, armed with 21st-century weapons, is, in anyone’s books, a danger to the modern world.
@Ian – Quite possibly so Ian and I can share your concern but can I gently remind you which country it is that has reneged on an International Treaty with 4 other major nations, 3 of whom are NATO allies, and the EU? By all means criticise but at least have the decency to provide the overall context here. Iran was in full compliance with the terms of that Treaty and was shown by independent inspectors to be so. Then along comes Trump, plays to his own domestic echo chamber and pulls out of it. Immediately the US media machine… Read more »
Bang on the money Chris H, this isn’t just 1 aggressor
Spot on, Chris – but has the US actually GOT a coherent foreign policy? Perhaps if we trawl through DT’s tweets we might find one…
Chris is right. Trump is so desperate to eradicate Obama’s legacy that he’s putting lives at risk. Scary stuff.
I find it incredulous, that any nation is naive enough to think, that Iran’s agenda is anything less/other than becoming a nuclear power. It’s the sanctions threatening Irans Theopolitical Leadership, that force it to take a belligerent stance. The Mullahs are concerned about civil unrest and any subsequent revolt! Heaven forbid that Iran may again return to a thriving, modern-day society, as it was pre-revolution/pre-Islamic State… So, what’s brought The US to this juncture? I believe it’s because of Obama’s blind statesmanship, which was fed by the likes of Merkel’s plans for an EU republic, led by Germany, backed-up by… Read more »
“I believe it’s because of Obama’s blind statesmanship, which was fed by the likes of Merkel’s plans for an EU republic, led by Germany, backed-up by France, with its villein subordinates in tow.” Frankly total and utter Paranoid Bollards! Firstly Obama wasn’t blind to what he was doing, he had an eye on normalising relations with Iran in the long term and influencing the succession to the current Supreme Leader through the Carrot of lifting sanctions. As Chris H points out the independent nuclear verification was working and the moderates in Iran had gained an advantage in the process of… Read more »
Ian what do you think the US and Israeli agenda is? Iran tried to make peace and recognise Israel 20 years. The biggest rogue state in the Middle East is Israel, there is not another country on the planet that has ignored more UN resolutions than Israel. Nearly 50% of all UN human rights resolutions are towards Israel. Israel has 100 nuclear weapons, and has a policy of illegal “pre-emptive” military action towards any nation it sees as a threat. Israeli policy in the Middle East is easy to understand, it wants to be undisputed top dog and their leader… Read more »
“there is not another country on the planet that has ignored more UN resolutions than Israel.”
And moves against this are then vetoed by the US.
Just like when Russia and China are portrayed as the big bad wolf for using the veto concerning Syria.
Politics!
SS wrote:
“”Ian what do you think the US and Israeli agenda is? Iran tried to make peace and recognise Israel 20 years.”
Not true, Iran since the mullahs took control in 1979 has pushed for the destruction of Israel.
1979: Khomeini declared Israel an “enemy of Islam” and ‘The Little Satan’
2000: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called Israel a “cancerous tumour” that should be removed from the region
If Iran wanted to make peace, it would reopen diplomatic relation, something it refuses to do.
@farouk – Sadly this cannot be brief but you keep pointing the accusing finger at Iran. However up to 1979 relations between Israel and Iran were to say the least very close. Indeed Israel survived the 6 day war thanks to fuel supplied by Iran and oil from Iran was sold via Israel and the Eilat-Ashkelon pipeline. After the change of power in ’79 Israel refused to pay for oil supplied by Iran amounting to some $1 Bn in ’79 money. Repeated demands have been refused by Israel despite a court judgment in May 2015 ordering the immediate payment of… Read more »
SS wrote: “The biggest rogue state in the Middle East is Israel, there is not another country on the planet that has ignored more UN resolutions than Israel. “ Would that be the UN which devotes more time and effort to Israel than any other state: During the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly (2018-2019), all EU member states voted for one resolution each to criticize: (1) Iran, (2) Syria, (3) North Korea, (4) Crimea, (5) Myanmar, (6) the U.S., for its embargo on Cuba. In contrast, EU states voted for 16 out of 21 resolutions singling out Israel.… Read more »
Farouk, almost word-for-word you have typed my intended replies! I sit here in disbelief, that a terrorist run state is not only defended but also encouraged! A terror State that Hangs gays from cranes or pushes them, bound by ropes, from tall buildings. A Terror State that attacks the world’s shipping and funds proscribed terror organisations such as Hezbollah, Hamas… A Terror State that suppresses the “Human” rights of women… A Terror State that executes between 500-1000 citizens every year, including the highest rate of juvenile executions in the world. Is this the UN that those on here talk of:… Read more »
Ian wrote:
“”Israel is less than perfect, but to call it apartheid, terrorist, illegitimate…is beyond the realms of reason.”
The UK government advices British citizens from visiting Iran, but not agaisnt Israel . I wonder why that is?
@Ian – Quote: “I sit here in disbelief, that a terrorist run state is not only defended but also encouraged!” I have neither defended Iran or encouraged it and to say otherwise is utterly wrong. Disagree by all means but at least keep some accuracy. My whole effort has been to discuss the arbitrary reneging of an international treaty by the USA. Its that simple and its that factual. Iran was NOT in any way in breach of the terms of that Treaty. Now it may well have been involved in other stuff but no one really knows and if… Read more »
Who are you talking about Ian, Saudi Arabia?
@Ian – OK so my gentle reminder didn’t work… So lets be very clear then shall we? You drag in all the surrounding superfluous comments to build a case against Iran. And in doing so you missed this comment of mine: “I am no defender of Islam or the Iranians who are without doubt trouble makers but then so are Israel, Syria and the Saudis in different ways. No one has clean hands in the Middle East.” So we are sort of on the same mindset but I do have to part company as regards the simple matter of this… Read more »
Chris H wrote: No the USA just picks up its ball and says we aren’t playing any more. Well that makes the USA in default not Iran The US has stated that Iran isn’t playing ball regards the 2015 deal. Iran says it is. In July 2015, Iran had almost 20,000 centrifuges. Under the JCPOA, it was limited to installing no more than 5,060 of the oldest and least efficient centrifuges at Natanz until 2026 . if that is the case, how is Iran able to state only the otherday that it will be able to breach its Enriched uranium… Read more »
@farouk – I have been noting your comments with interest but to help me could you please provide verifiable sources for the ‘20,000 centrifuges’? And please no Facebook or Twitter. Thank you. Now on the one hand you happily accept without question what the USA says about Iran not doing X, Y and Z. To which I would reply in that time honoured response of a certain lady “Well they would say that wouldn’t they?” You seem immune to the possibility that the USA is deliberately cranking up the rhetoric to justify its breach of an International Treaty. You then… Read more »
Chris H wrote: ” I have been noting your comments with interest but to help me could you please provide verifiable sources for the ‘20,000 centrifuges’?” Of course, Google: Iran nuclear deal: Key details The top result should be the BBC article dated 11th June 2019 you’ll find what I cut and pasted under Uranium enrichment Now on the one hand you happily accept without question what the USA says about Iran not doing X, Y and Z. Actually I glean a lot more from sites such as: Oryx Joseph Dempsey The Guardian East Pendulum Lost Weapons Cᴀʟɪʙʀᴇ Oʙsᴄᴜʀᴀ monitoring… Read more »
@farouk – well yes I am glad you quoted the BBC because I had already read that report and to summarise it says is that Iran WAS respecting terms of that Treaty, there is no doubt as you say and indeed the IAEA saw no reason to doubt Iran’s position. The BBC quotes: “The agency’s director-general, Yukiya Amano, said the report concluded that until 2003 Iran had conducted “a co-ordinated effort” on “a range of activities relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device”. Iran continued with some activities until 2009, but after that there were “no credible indications”… Read more »
The United States never ratified the agreement as a Treaty hence why it is always referred to as the “Iran Nuclear Agreement” or “Iran Nuclear Deal”. This is because it never would have made it through the Senate as all Treaties are required in order to bind the United States. The Nuclear Deal never rose beyond the legal status of a Executive Agreement in the US. Which can be terminated at will by the President or the Senate for any reason. Even had it passed the Senate it could be nullified by any following Senate. It’s almost as if the… Read more »
@Elliott – So basically in all bar your last paragraph what you are saying is that no country should ever trust the USA to keep to its side of a bargain / treaty / agreement / deal / whatever? OK we get that and actually supports my feelings about the USA in general and this action in particular. Whether its ‘legal’ or not in Wyoming, Omaha or Alaska means diddley squat mate. Iran, the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, Germany and the EU signed an agreement. Period. One has reneged on that agreement. The USA. And… Read more »
1st rule never trust ANY country to do something IT does NOT view in their own interest. The oft proclaimed International Law has no bodies to enforce itself which the United States is a party to except debatably the Security Council on which the US has a veto. There are no judges to issue writs of injunction or warrants of arrest based on international law, nor are there police to carry them out within the United States. Second Wyoming and Alaska are member States within the Union while Omaha is a city. What is legal there actually means quite a… Read more »
flawed maybe…..but at least bought time to figure out other solutions and not trying to push Iran over the precipice
I have a certain sympathy for that thinking since it simply cannot be disproved as a very real danger. Which raises the question as to why a belligerent President who talks big on threats has convinced his support that under him the US is withdrawing from the very overseas adventures that talk of his would realistically require to back it up, while dissolving the very alliances that his predecessors worked so hard to build and maintain. Like our own version Boris, it has a lot to do with solving the immediate short term problem (ie getting elected) without real concern… Read more »
@Spyinthesky – Once again pretty much calling it right. Trump is feeding a domestic political beast that will eventually eat him when he fails. I am not sure any other POTUS ha managed to fall out with so many other countries in such a short time and this will damage US relations abroad for a very long time. As for BoJo? Despite my being a fervent Brexiteer and an ex Tory voter I hope Hunt wins as he looks the part, has served in high office for a long time, has been loyal to party and PM and had a… Read more »
Agreed. Good post.
Sorry guys – please remember that all the agreement did was let Iran fund Hezbollah and Huti’s. Iran has not once renounced its aim to wipe out Israel. I am afraid it is Munich Conference Mk 2. You all sound like Neville Chamberlain – “PEACE IN OUR TIME!”
Steve and Ian on the other side of the coin for 20ish years since the revolt, the US and Israel have have wanted to wipe out Iran. It works both ways you can’t threaten you way out of a war and you also can’t appease your way out either. But I can see both points, we didn’t like it in the middle of the Cold War states started supplying the IRA with weapons and we all know which countries did with or without their govenments knowledge. So I can see why Israel aren’t happy. But I can also see why… Read more »
Just to up the ante a bit, Israel are developing stealthy conformal fuel tanks with Lockheed Martin. These will extend the range of their F35s so they can reach Tehran. Hmm, undetectable aircraft with nukes. Iran better be careful with what they’re doing near the Golan Heights.
Longtime – seeing as you suggest the supply of Weapons have a guess who supplied Weaponry to Iran during its long and bloody war with Iraq ? Also you suggest that Israel has intent to wipe Iran out – have you any proof of that especially seeing as the reverse is true ?.
No need for me to comment after that Chris, my thoughts exactly.
Chris H wrote: “”Iran was in full compliance with the terms of that Treaty and was shown by independent inspectors to be so.”” Actually that is debatable. Iran has been renegading on the deal by testing ballistic missiles. Also the claim earlier this week that Tehran would surpass its limits on high grade uranium after supposedly getting rid of most of its centrifuges points in the direction of a surreptitious nuclear program. Whilst not part of the above deal. Iran has been caught spying in Germany, running hit squads in Denmark,Belgium and Germany and of stock piling 3 tonnes of… Read more »
Well said
Indeed the implications of Trumps behaviour generally will only likely be fully felt after he has gone at which point that damage will inevitably be blamed by he and his PR machine as ‘look what happens when I’m not around’. Typical business practice especially in the US being applied to the World political stage. Truly baffling is his view that such measures will work against a regime like Iran who are not only mad, have an inate self destruct fervor that’s totally unprecictable and most dangerous have serious weaponry in a vital spot for the west that can have serious… Read more »
The US never ratified the treaty, so it has reneged on nothing.
@David E Flandry – Ah so thats OK then. The USA can make ‘deals’, reach ‘agreements’ or ‘shake hands’ on a way forward and they can walk away any time they like. I wondered why very few people trust Americans … Thanks for clarifying that. Of course I bet the other parties to that ‘deal’ (China, Russia, UK, Germany, France, the EU and Iran) all thought there was a ‘deal’ / ‘agreement’ / whatever. Indeed the UK is still committed to it and having meetings with the Iranian Government as we write … And by the way – you don’t… Read more »
Well… mid to late 20th century weaponry maybe
Well I’m off to my garage to dig out my desert issue kit, my mrs could do with another OP bonus.
BV
Don’t forget the factor 50
You will need it…its a balmy 43 degs today where I am in the Gulf…I have sunfactor Overalls on and am still getting burnt!
As long as you aren’t planning to get there by Emirates or Etihad.
it seems it was actually a BAMS-D not a triton, as the first triton deployment will be to guam…. not that theres really much difference, as it basically is a triton.
Interesting round of comments, thank you gentlemen
If the US drone breached Iranian airspace, couldn’t Iran have sent an interceptor jet to escort the drone out? I think that the US was wrong to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal when there was no breach and they have been very provocative towards Iran. But i think Iran is not helping itself if it starts openly shooting down unarmed drones. At least in yemen it is done through proxies, but this time it is not. I fear that by doing this Iran is going to force neutral parties like the EU to take sides. OFC it will be… Read more »
Gandalf wrote: “But i do not want any EU country sucked into some bullshit conflict with Iran to serve Israeli and Saudi interests. The EU has its eyes on Iran regards exports which is why it has remained silent on: 1) Arrests and holding of European/Iranian (dual citizens) for political gain. 2) Death teams inside Europe (arrests in Denmark/Belgium) 3) Spying inside Europe (Germany) 5) Support for terrorism inside Europe (looks at the cover up of the 3 tonne find of Hezballah explosive in North London revealed last week which the Uk Gov remained silent on in which to keep… Read more »
Remind me how many Saudi nationals were on those planes on 9/11? OBL was part of which royal family? Saudis have been funding terrorist groups across the globe for years, not to mention all the madrasas they fund acroos the globe to spread their radical islamist views. Saudi is the motherland of salafists, wahhabism and all that garbage! They played a significant role in the situation in Syria by funding radical groups like ISIS, yet have not taken any refugees! Yet somehow europe should take them and should assume responsibility? We can even go as far back as Boznia when… Read more »
Gandlaf.
The subject in discussion is the EU and Iran as pointed out by your quote:
““But i do not want any EU country sucked into some bullshit conflict with Iran to serve Israeli and Saudi interests.”
The last i looked 9/11 was 18 years ago and not part of the subject thread
No the subject is the Iranian shooting down of a US drone. This inevitably involves key regional players like Israel and Saudi, as well as having ramifications for Europe. So stop trying to lobby support for action against Iran to serve the direct interests of Saudi and Israel, which have been trying to stir up trouble with Iran for years. They seem to have succeded in lobbying the Trump administration, I hope Europe will be smarter and not get sucked in
Gandalf wrote:
No the subject is the Iranian shooting down of a US drone.
1) Maybe you should take a bit of your own advice then
2) Where do I lobby for war No seriously. point out exactly where i did so. I never have. and I am calling you out on that.
Obviously you fail to see the bigger picture and only seem to focus on Iran’s trangressions, which are not related to this direct incident. So i find it hypocrytical when you talk about iranin activities in germany or north london, yet take umbrage when i am trying to point out what is at stake geopolitically with this incident and its possible outcomes
I am not pushing an Iranian or Saudi/Israel agenda, i think they all suck. I am merely interested in Europe’s interest unlike you who seem hellbent on towing the Israel/Saudi line and blaming Iran!
Gandalf wrote: Obviously you fail to see the bigger picture What you mean the continuation of the Sunni/Shia divide which has been ongoing for the past 1300 years. This came to a head in 1980 when Iraq funded by the Gulf states decided to do something about those pesky Persians . Since then, Iran has gone out of its way to drum up trouble in Shia areas of: Bahrain Yemen Saudi Arabia Iraq Lebanon Nigeria Ghana The Iranian missile plan isn’t about Israel, its about combating Sunni Islam, but the Mullahs use Israel so as not to ostracise the umma.… Read more »
“Actually I thought i was stating the facts, with actual evidence , something a lot of posters on here aren’t doing.”
Are you implying that what i have said is factually incorrect? Please feel free to point out where i am wrong instead of unsubstantiated accusations
The USA is a horrendous warmonger is completely evidenced. Why it is a horrendous warmonger is a harder question. Education is a psychological need. That’s not generally intuitive. Any culture has a hegemony over what individuals in the culture are taught and believe. Ultimately the USA gets to be a horrendously immoral force in the world since all modern cultures accept that modern societies rely on ruling-class deceive the working-classes. Immoral people control the perceptions of innocents and truth them into immoral people who believe they are moral. For a country to have an immoral war economy while the people… Read more »
You have attained full retard. Also love the crowning yourself a moral arbiter. You attack the the Nation State for no other reason than you are in all likelihood a Marxist. With no Nation State there is no Law & Order, no society, no real freedom in the end. As you would simply be trying to eat and survive. Comparing them to mafias is an insult to your ancestors. If people like you were deciding on the education of my children and grandchildren I would rather they remain ignorant. Somehow the United States is attacked and it is a warmonger.… Read more »
@Elliott Another Fox News spoonfed puppet. Cannot think for himself or do any research on the subject, instead obeys and accepts any false-flag lies the government says. Sheep?
Da, Comrade. The Central Committee agrees with you.
Why then do countries continue to request the help of America if America is so evil? lol
@dan What countries do you speak of exactly? Over course of history, America has tried to inadvertently or covertly topple 72 different governments around the world that would not bow to it. Open some history books and educate yourself. Going back to this incident. How is removing, rescuing and putting out the fire amount to evidence proving Iran was responsible for the explosion? This is a complete red-herring. The same could be said about how conveniently the American Navy helicopter/drone there at the exact moment pointing its camera’s at the Japanese oil tanker ship, don’t forget there are American subs… Read more »
Agree on America’s history.
On the timing of the UAV presence I’d have guessed given the areas strategic importance there would always be an asset aloft?
Pointing at the ship, maybe because they were watching the approaching Iranians before hand and continued up to the point of Limpet mine removal.
Just a few alternatives but not dismissing your hypothesis either.
Soon… Stay tuned folks…
Cheers
From the reports I’ve seen online it appears the drone was only flying around 22,000ft. Why the heck put a super expensive drone that is capable of flying at 60k at only 22k in a hostile environment? The answer was probably because at 60k the optical sensors on this particular drone doesn’t have the fidelity at 50-60k so it needs to come down much lower to VID something. This is fatal mistake the drone operator or the higher up who ordered such a low altitude for the drone so close to hostile territory. They should have known that if u… Read more »