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i24 News, Israel
Sept 1 2014
Israeli drone in Iran: fact or fiction?
Security expert says features of the drone Iran claimed it shot down
are not compatible with its alleged model
Did Iran really shoot down a drone sent by Israel last month to spy on
its nuclear facilities?
Patrick Megahan, a research analyst of the militaryedge.org website at
the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told the Jerusalem Post
that the images published by Iran of the downed UAV could indicate
they were faked.
For one, the remnants do not match those of any known Israeli UAV, said Megahan.
"There is a clear hole at the tip of the nose" on the drone that Iran
claimed it shot down, but "the Hermes 450 has a smooth nose with some
kind of rectangular openings on the top and bottom, which are absent
on this drone," Megahan told The Post.
In fact, the aircraft that Iran claims to have shot down "actually
resembles an Iranian developed Shahed 129 drone more than any known
Israeli one," added Megahan.
Second, the military research analyst points out that Iran's claim
that the drone was on its way to the Natanz uranium enrichment plant
is dubious, since it is almost 1,600 kilometers from Israel and well
out of the range of both the Hermes 180 and 450.
"There is speculation that it could be a an Azeri owned Hermes drone,
but again, Natanz is too far from Azerbaijan for those models to
reach, loiter overtop to collect intelligence, and then return," he
said.
Third, Megahan says that Israel has larger, more capable drones like
the Heron TP, which "would be better suited for this type of
operation."
Members of Iran's Revolutionary Guard claimed the downed drone had a
range of 800 kms and is radar evading, but neither of the Hermes
models in Israel's arsenal has such a capability, he told The Post.
Iranian officials published a video clip of the downed drone that
appeared to show that it was a Hermes 450. Iran said the aircraft had
taken off from a country on its northern border, although stopped
short of identifying which of the three possible countries -- Armenia,
Azerbaijan or Turkmenistan- it was referring to.
Tehran announced that it would "accelerate" arming Palestinians in the
occupied West Bank in retaliation for Israel deploying the spy drone
over Iran.
"We will accelerate the arming of the West Bank and we reserve the
right to give any response," said General Amir-Ali Hajizadeh,
commander of aerial forces of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards.
http://www.i24news.tv/en/news/international/middle-east/42187-140901-israeli-drone-in-iran-fact-or-fiction
From: A. Papazian
Sept 1 2014
Israeli drone in Iran: fact or fiction?
Security expert says features of the drone Iran claimed it shot down
are not compatible with its alleged model
Did Iran really shoot down a drone sent by Israel last month to spy on
its nuclear facilities?
Patrick Megahan, a research analyst of the militaryedge.org website at
the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told the Jerusalem Post
that the images published by Iran of the downed UAV could indicate
they were faked.
For one, the remnants do not match those of any known Israeli UAV, said Megahan.
"There is a clear hole at the tip of the nose" on the drone that Iran
claimed it shot down, but "the Hermes 450 has a smooth nose with some
kind of rectangular openings on the top and bottom, which are absent
on this drone," Megahan told The Post.
In fact, the aircraft that Iran claims to have shot down "actually
resembles an Iranian developed Shahed 129 drone more than any known
Israeli one," added Megahan.
Second, the military research analyst points out that Iran's claim
that the drone was on its way to the Natanz uranium enrichment plant
is dubious, since it is almost 1,600 kilometers from Israel and well
out of the range of both the Hermes 180 and 450.
"There is speculation that it could be a an Azeri owned Hermes drone,
but again, Natanz is too far from Azerbaijan for those models to
reach, loiter overtop to collect intelligence, and then return," he
said.
Third, Megahan says that Israel has larger, more capable drones like
the Heron TP, which "would be better suited for this type of
operation."
Members of Iran's Revolutionary Guard claimed the downed drone had a
range of 800 kms and is radar evading, but neither of the Hermes
models in Israel's arsenal has such a capability, he told The Post.
Iranian officials published a video clip of the downed drone that
appeared to show that it was a Hermes 450. Iran said the aircraft had
taken off from a country on its northern border, although stopped
short of identifying which of the three possible countries -- Armenia,
Azerbaijan or Turkmenistan- it was referring to.
Tehran announced that it would "accelerate" arming Palestinians in the
occupied West Bank in retaliation for Israel deploying the spy drone
over Iran.
"We will accelerate the arming of the West Bank and we reserve the
right to give any response," said General Amir-Ali Hajizadeh,
commander of aerial forces of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards.
http://www.i24news.tv/en/news/international/middle-east/42187-140901-israeli-drone-in-iran-fact-or-fiction
From: A. Papazian