Saturday, March 23, 2013

U.S. fighters now running interference for surveillance drones in Gulf

http://www.geostrategy-direct.com/geostrategy-direct/secure/2013/03_27/1.asp

 

U.S. fighters now running interference for surveillance drones in Gulf

WASHINGTON — The United States has begun protecting its unmanned aircraft in the Gulf.

Officials said the U.S. Air Force has ordered fighter-jets to accompany unmanned aerial vehicles for surveillance operations in the Gulf. They said the air force was deploying F-15 and F-16 aircraft to intercept approaching enemy platforms, particularly from Iran.

"This arrangement has been going on throughout 2013," an official said.

On March 12, the Defense Department reported an Iranian attempt to intercept a U.S. Air Force MQ-1 Predator UAV over the Gulf. The Pentagon said an Iranian Air Force F-4 tried to down the Predator, but was stopped by two U.S. fighter-jets.

"The closest point of approach between these aircraft was approximately 16 miles," Pentagon spokesman George Little said.

Little said the Predator was on what he termed a "routine classified surveillance flight over international waters in the Arabian Gulf." He said the Iranian F-4 Phantom-2 suspended its chase of Predator "after a verbal warning."

"All U.S. aircraft remained over international waters at all times," Little said.

This marked the latest confrontation between the Iranian and U.S. air forces. In November 2012, Iranian fighter-jets fired on a Predator near the coast of Iran and missed.

 

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