Missiles miss U.S. plane in Iraq!!!

edition.cnn.com...



Maybe Donald "Duck" Rumsfeld was also the intended target of this attack..?

Attacker(s) knowing/thinking that he was on-board of that plane..

[Edited on 7-9-2003 by FULCRUM]

What specific type of missile was fired at the cargo plane?

2 MANPADS, most likely SA-7s as they didnt hit anything..

Interesting.


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Some info on the SA-7 -
www.fas.org...

Seems like a lot of them about in the post - cold war world

Didnt the US also supply Stingers to Iraq during the Iran/Iraq war ?

Yes the US did supply stingers to Iraq but by now the batteries that run them have ran out, rendering them useless.

Thanks for that - I had no idea they had a "shelf life".

Yeah, SA-7s are quite old about the first MANPAD around, and also easy to fool.. By flares.. and these weapons are "tail-chase only"..

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SA-7s are allways fired in doubles..

[Edited on 7-9-2003 by FULCRUM]

The missiles needed a battery to run their guidence and targeting systems.

Stinger:


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Wouldnt a C-130 be carrying counter measures in that sort of environment ? - there was an article that British Airways are talking about retro fitting such systems onto their fleet ?

Here:
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That is the thermal battery that powers the "system"..

But what to you think about the attack? Who was behind it and what was the goal/target?

Planes generally or Donalnd "Duck" Rumsfelds plane?

I think that they just wanted to shoot down a American plane, not kill a person. They probaly did not know that he was on one of the planes.

C-141:

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[Edited on 7-9-2003 by jetsetter]

The plane attacked was C-141 "starlifter", and they do carry as do C-130 "Hercules" missile warners and chaff/flare packs.

Jetsetter just posted a pics showing C-141 firing flares.. that is a good pic..

But the another isnt, its too wide.

[Edited on 7-9-2003 by FULCRUM]

I would put the attack in the catergory "oportunist" - the players knew DR was in country - but i would doubt they knew which flight he might be on. So an attack would be a scare tactic - the IRA tried multiple times in the 70s to shoot things down - and forced a change in aviation practices - and caused disruption. As a large number of those guys trained in the middle east i wouldnt be surprised if the ideas rubbed of on each other.

BTW love the Nick - isnt Fulcrum the Nato designation given to the MIG-29 ?

Yeah, there is evidence that IRA members have trained terrorist all over qorld.. some have been killed or captured in Columbia..

And yes, Fulcrum is a NATO code for MiG-29.. and the plane is worthy of the name even if some claim otherwise..

Btw, i kinda remember that actual Russian name for MiG-29 is "Eagle"..

[Edited on 7-9-2003 by FULCRUM]

Yes NATO gave the name FULCRUM to the Mig-29.

Thanks for that - sorry got my Herc wrong - I rember that lifter from Farnborough a few years ago - squat ugly thing on the ground but very pretty in the air.

As for the MIG - its one of my favorites - a very agile bird - unless your doing a chase loop at an airshow - and I happen to be on the flight line !

Oh as for the Provos - it is well documented that they trained in the Middle East - the Bekka Valley in Lybia being a favorite spot - running about in Belfast it was funny to spot some normally pasty player who had suddenly got a great tan - and hadnt been to Malaga on his hols

If you like the Mig-29, you will love my avatar.

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