| Submit your comments on this article |
| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Hizbollah Cruise Missiles Shot Down |
| 2006-08-15 |
| August 15, 2006: Israel shot down two more Hizbollah UAVs, which were apparently being used as cruise missiles. One of the UAVs was downed over northern Israel, the other over south Lebanon. One of the downed UAVs was definitely carrying explosives, and the other probably was. Hizbollah calls their UAV "Mirsad 1", but it appears to be an Iranian Ababil. This is a 183 pound UAV with a ten foot wing span, a payload of about 80 pounds, a cruising speed of 290 kilometers an hour and an endurance of 90 minutes. The Ababil is known to operate as far as 150 kilometers from its ground controller. but it also has a GPS guidance system that allows it to fly a pre-programmed route and then return to the control by its ground controllers for a landing (which is by parachute). Used as a cruise missile, it has a one way range of about 400 kilometers. Using GPS guidance, it could deliver about 60 pounds of explosives to a prominent Israeli government building in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv. The Ababil normally carries a variety of day and night still and video cameras. When the Hizbollah UAVs first appeared, the Israelis feared that the low flying Ababils could come south carrying a load of nerve gas, or even just explosives. There's nothing exotic about UAV technology, at least for something like the Ababil. It was no surprise that Iran began using home made UAVs in the late 1990s. After all, they had received some UAVs from the United States in the 1970s (Firebee target drones.) The Israelis immediately tagged Iran as the supplier of the Hizbollah drone, because Iran has long supplied that terrorist organization with cash, weapons and equipment for decades. Now Israel has many components of two shot down UAVs, which will enable them to make a positive identification. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #13 Destroy Iran now. |
| Posted by: SR-71 2006-08-15 18:53 |
| #12 As they draw up plans for Iran, the bombs should be measured by megaton. It is time to put an end to this and finish off Iran. |
| Posted by: 49 Pan 2006-08-15 18:22 |
| #11 When is Iran going to be taken to task for its incessant meddling? The sheer fact that Tehran still stands is testimony to this world's voluntary blindness. Take out the mullahs and a whole lot less of this vile nonsense will happen. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2006-08-15 16:48 |
| #10 Denial is also a river in Afrika. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2006-08-15 15:58 |
| #9 Everybody is trying to delay the inevitable. We all know that to stop Iran the US or Israel is going to have to drop the bomb. Why wait? |
| Posted by: TMH 2006-08-15 15:57 |
| #8 And no wonder the Iranians are celebrating their victory in the streets. |
| Posted by: ex-lib 2006-08-15 15:16 |
| #7 Yeah, the Hezbos are totally calling the shots. Which means Iran is calling the shots. |
| Posted by: ex-lib 2006-08-15 15:15 |
| #6 #1: "The Hizmonkies have broken the almighty cease fire." They broke it when they commanded the Lebanese army not to take their guns - and the Lebenese army obeyed. |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2006-08-15 15:12 |
| #5 What do they care, I mean, it's not like it's their money. |
| Posted by: Deacon Blues 2006-08-15 14:43 |
| #4 Seems like an awfully expensive way to deliver a small amount of munitions. Not if you're a ROPer, Mike. |
| Posted by: gromgoru 2006-08-15 11:37 |
| #3 Global Security has a good description of the UAV here. Seems like an awfully expensive way to deliver a small amount of munitions. |
| Posted by: Mike 2006-08-15 11:06 |
| #2 I believe this story refers to a pair of UAVs Israel shot down a few days ago, before the cease fire. |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2006-08-15 10:33 |
| #1 Hello? Restart the offensive Israel! The Hizmonkies have broken the almighty cease fire. |
| Posted by: Laurence of the Rats 2006-08-15 10:29 |