Patriot Missile Shoots Down RAF Plane over Kuwait...

[Dowding]

FFS.

RAF aircraft 'hit by US missile'

[Mini D]

Its truly a tragedy.

I'm curious to see what happened on this one.   The IFF in this situation should not have permitted this (well... given a pretty damn indicator at least).

MiniD

[funkedup]

That sucks.  Somebody screwed up.

[NUKE]

Originally posted by funkedup
That sucks.  Somebody screwed up.

really? what insight you have.

[Fishu]

The war has hardly began and every day theres coming more incidental / friendly fire casualties than in the combat.

Looks like some patriot guys were bit of a trigger happy.

[funkedup]

Originally posted by NUKE
really? what insight you have.

Thanks.

My point is this:  We don't know who screwed up.  Could have been the Patriot crew making a mistake, or it could have been the RAF crew making a mistake with their IFF settings.  Or it could have been a technical problem on either side.  Either way it's unfortunate, and it sucks, for want of a better term.  Please, dazzle me with your insight and eloquence if you think you can do better.  

[Torque]

It's hard on the grieving relatives since there is alot of mixed emotion and depending on the circumstances the healing can be very slow.

My wife's cousin was just clear of the blast zone in the Canadian group that was in Afganistan he lost four buddies to a 1000lber.

They have spent billions on the Patriot system for the last decade and it still can't even intercept a crude missle like the Scud.

The system has been known to miss fire i hope it wasn't just a software issue, seems the one complaint about the Patriot is it's automation.

[Monk]

Originally posted by Fishu
The war has hardly began and every day theres coming more incidental / friendly fire casualties than in the combat.

 

There are always more FF and accidents in a War.

[Replicant]

Originally posted by Torque


They have spent billions on the Patriot system for the last decade and it still can't even intercept a crude missle like the Scud.

The system has been known to miss fire i hope it wasn't just a software issue, seems the one complaint about the Patriot is it's automation.

I don't know how correct it is but I was hearing that it often takes at least 2, and sometimes as many as 5, to bring down a Scud.  Is that correct???

As for the RAF plane downed.... I heard that the Patriot systems were on the lookout for incomming Iraq Drones (with possible biochems on board).  Whether that was contributory at all, who knows.

Just hoping the aircrew managed to eject safely...

[rpm]

The Patriot has gone thru some amazing upgrades since `91. We won't know the true hit ratio for years after this conflict but they have changed the missle to "kill by contact" rather than using a proximity warhead like it had in `91. There was obviously SOME breakdown in Command and Control to have launched the thing in the first place. Bottom line, pray for the Pilot's wellbeing.

[Mini D]

Hitting scuds traveling at well over 2000 mph and hitting an aircraft are two completely different things.

I'm wondering if Iraq actually has guidance systems for any of the missiles they are shooting at us.  If they don't, the Patriot system doesn't seem to be worth much (especially now).  Its hit about 40% of the missiles that have been fired at Kuwait.  The ones it didn't hit have fallen harmlessely into the desert.

MiniD

[bowser]

It's been proven that the Patriots hit close to 0% in the last war, after claims of near %100.  The military wasn't intentionally lying, their analysis was simply wrong.

Not sure why anyone would easily accept the latest claims of success without question.

The new version was never tested against scuds or similiar.  I hope they are indeed working as well as they say, but I think most would be suprised if the hit percentage turns out to be anywhere near 40-50%.

bowser

[Hawklore]

I feel for the plane.....


Even more for her crew..

[Raubvogel]

Originally posted by bowser
It's been proven that the Patriots hit close to 0% in the last war, after claims of near %100.  
bowser

Huh? I saw at least 2 Scuds intercepted with my own eyes dude. Patriot launcher was about a kilometer away from our position. Watched the missiles launch, followed them to a streak coming across the sky, watched them explode, saw the debris the next day. I know I've killed alot of brain cells in the past 12 years, but I'm pretty sure I know what I saw.

[Otto]

This is terrible news....  While it gives me no joy I thnk the tapes taken from the engagement will show that the Toranado was not 'squaking' the correct IFF code.   They had no choice but to fire...   I'm very, very sad about this....