Saudi F-15 hit by Converted AAM SAM

Reports that Houthi rebels had turned seized Russian made air-to-air missiles into improvised surface-to-air missiles have been circulating for months. An attack on a Saudi F-15 in January that was filmed by a commandeered FLIR turret was claimed to have been executed using one of these missiles. Now it seems we have definitive proof that these weapons are indeed being put to use in Yemen and in an effective manner.

www.thedrive.com...

Calling this a ghetto sam is just obnoxious. We have converted Sidewinders in the past to SAMs.

It makes you wonder how long until there is a radar based AAW SAM conversion.

A Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) F-15 multirole fighter was “intercepted” by a surface-to-air missile (SAM) while flying over northern Yemen on 21 March, but managed to complete its mission, Colonel Turki al-Maliki, the spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition, said later that day.

The Saudi Press Agency cited Col Maliki as saying the missile was launched from Sadah airport at 1548 h local time (1245 GMT), but the F-15 was able to “deal with the source of fire and return safe to base”.

www.janes.com...

The F-15 STILL got home.

Tough birds F-15s are...

a reply to: anzha

The US thwarted Russia in Afghanistan with Stingers, what I don't understand is why the Russians don't make flood Yemen and Syria with them?

After all their Sams were effective in Vietnam, nobody remembers that?

Or are they being quiet about actual numbers.

Kind of like Desert Storm, officials downplayed the number of tanks destroyed by Iraqis.

a reply to: intrptr

Did they downplay the actual numbers? I have never heard that before. Please start a new thread on that.

originally posted by: Fools
a reply to: intrptr

Did they downplay the actual numbers? I have never heard that before. Please start a new thread on that.

You mean start a new thread on current Covert US operatios to dominate the globe?

This thread is precisely about that.

Further: IOW, the title says "Saudi" F15, everyone knows its US built aircraft, flown by US trained pilots, employing US made ordnance, in an unjust war of aggression, by proxy.

But you never hear them admit that.

a reply to: intrptr

I do recall the stingers being useful in Afghanistan and how much of a problem the sams were in Vietnam.

I suspect the Russians are being cautious because they know the Saudis could open the taps again on oil and it would damage their economy significantly. The Saudis have enough money to ride through. The Russians don't.

a reply to: intrptr

No. This thread was about how a Saudi F-15 was hit by an Iranian derived sam.

The Saudis are fighting an anti Iranian battle all over the Gulf and Middle East. They are in a knife fight with the Iranians and have even considered basing Pakistani nukes on their soil as a deterrent. They do have some Pakistani troops in country.

You seem to have this idea that the US is the grand puppet master of the world. Have you considered you might be overestimating the US government's competence?

a reply to: anzha

Note how you can't see the launch site. Vehicle launched?

a reply to: anzha

No. This thread was about how a Saudi F-15 was hit by an Iranian derived sam.

Like it was a "Saudi" F15, too.

Proof(?) isn't because you say so.

a reply to: intrptr

Like it was a "Saudi" F15, too.

Proof(?) isn't because you say so.

Because the Saudis say so.

They don't need American pilots.

a reply to: gariac

I'd say probably. It's a big sam for people to carry.

a reply to: Fools

It probably belongs in a different forum, too, since this is supposed to be aviation oriented.

a reply to: anzha

You almost have to convert an AAM if you want to bring a fast jet down. MANPADS are great against helicopters, and would be a threat against large aircraft in takeoff or landing configuration, but they're not the major threat they're made out to be. A C-5, C-17, and an Airbus were all hit with one over Iraq and all landed safely.

originally posted by: gariac
a reply to: anzha

Note how you can't see the launch site. Vehicle launched?

Pic from link.

Alamo is in the Sparrow weight class, so probably 500'ish pounds. Little too big for lugging around.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Or you build a dedicated SAM like the Patriot or Hawk or whatever.

a reply to: anzha

If you can't though, a converted AAM is going to be much more effective than a MANPADS.

a reply to: Zaphod58

definitely. No disagreement.

I wonder how many people realize the PAC-3 missile was originally part of the SDI effort. Ah well.

What a boss plane.

a reply to: intrptr

Wasn't being facetious, wanted to actually see some numbers on that - just don't want anything to be thread drift deleted.

Curious if anyone knows the ratio of expat (contracted?) to actual Saudi pilots they have in their air force? I would imagine it to be as bad as 50/50.

originally posted by: anzha
a reply to: Fools

It probably belongs in a different forum, too, since this is supposed to be aviation oriented.

Pffft, war is war, but go ahead and deny that too.