Originally published at: Kuwaiti F/A-18 Suspected in Downing of Three U.S. F-15Es
Investigation continues into friendly fire incident during operations tied to Iran conflict.
This forum is no longer very interesing because they automatically close afer 6 days. First, they seperated the forum from the articles. Then they close them up way too soon. Not the best way to increase your ad revenue, AVWeb.
Drones are slow, propeller driven, powered by ICE and don’t employ evasive dogfight techniques. How do you mistake a drone for an F-15? You’re supposed to intercept (easily done as they’re slow) and identify before taking them out with cheap cannon fire, rather than expensive missiles; especially when friendlies are flying.
Methinks that perhaps it wasn’t Friendly Fire, but a hostile act by an Islamist who took advantage of the situation to hunt Americans.
Clearly you’ve never worked with the Kuwaiti military. They are not exactly the aces the US military is.
Are we sending a bill to Kuwait? They owe us 3 F-15 Strike Eagles at what, 70 million each? Chump change for Kuwait
How embarrassing for the USAF.
This loss is incredibly embarrassing for the USAF & Boeing. No IFF? RWR? No ECM, chaff, flares? How did this F18 get off at least three missiles without the F15s reacting?!
Arab pilots are notoriously average… what’s that say about the USAF crew competence?
Then there’s coordination with allies, command & control, tasking coordination… incredible incompetence.
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Maybe we should slow down and wait for information before we declare incompetence. The F-15s were clearly in “friendly” territory. Either not yet to their targets and the Forward Edge of The Battle Area, or on their way home. So, say they get a radar warning notification of an F-18 lock on. Think maybe the US has any Navy F-18s in the area? Were they shot down by Radar or IR missiles? The heat seekers don’t need any radar. I’m sure the Eagles were equipped with chaff, flares, and other ECM. But countermeasures are.not automatic. I won’t argue that the Kuwaiti crews were competent, but to slam the USAF or Boeing at this stage is ridiculous at best.
I can’t wait to see photos of that Hornet with 3 little blue circled white stars under the cockpit rail.
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