Posted on 02/10/2018 10:15:56 AM PST by BenLurkin
An Israeli F-16 fighter jet has crashed after being hit by Syrian air defences during an offensive in Syria, the Israeli military says.
The two pilots parachuted to safety before the crash in northern Israel. It is believed to be the first time Israel has lost a jet in the Syrian conflict.
The plane was hit during air strikes in response to an Iranian drone launch into Israeli territory, Israel says. The drone was shot down. Israel later launched further strikes in Syria. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) say they hit aerial defence batteries and Iranian military sites in the latest strikes.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
I thought F-16’a were single seaters!
They’re supposed to be, but I wouldn’t put it past the Israelis to modify it so heavily it needs a weapons officer.
Likud really wants a hot war
Thank you Barack Obama for providing the cash to Iran to develop those drones and to be able to support Hezbollah and move into Syria.
We had two-seat F-16 Block 50 aircraft in the Tulsa Air National Guard.
2-seaters exist and are used variously.
I think I would rather sit there and let the Israeli A.F. bomb where they want, than shoot one of their planes down. That will not work out well in the long run for Assad.
Aren’t the stock two-seaters training aircraft?
F-15s and F-16s make up the backbone of Israel’s potent fighter force.
The IDF’s main fighter is the F-16 Fighting Falcon, including the aging F-16 A/B Netz (“Falcon”)[now for sale on the International market]
the F-16C Barak (“Lightning”) and
the 2-seat F-16D Brakeets (“Thunderbolt”), and
the newest of the lot - the heavily customized two-seat F-16I Block 52+ Soufa (“Storm”) [likely the type just lost ].
The Israelis fly the largest contingent of F-16s outside the United States, alongside longer range, higher performance F-15s. F-15A-D Baz (“Eagle”) models have greatly distinguished themselves external link in IDF service, and the customized two-seat F-15I Ra’ahm (“Thunder”) Strike Eagle external link is optimized for advanced ground attack and long range interception.
All of these aircraft are heavily modified from the US versions, with Israeli avionics, self-protection systems, weapons, and sometimes radars as well.
The US Version of the F-15E Strike Eagle was copied from the IDF version.
Just like the US was always behind on tank Technology and copied much of what the Soviets put into service, when it comes to multi-role fighters, the IDF also lead the way.
Something about being small and always at war.....
Possibly an F-16I, I meant to add....
That's rather unsettling. If they took down a front line fighter with two heads in it perhaps all their talk of "a new strategic era" is more than just prattle.
I understand that to be Iranian sites in Syria.
But the IDF has my permission to eradicate Iran without condition.
God will take of Iran when they (and their allies) try to destroy Israel in Ezekiel 38.
And Iran is heading right into it. That’s what is so crazy about this. Syria was an Iran proxy for a long time; regularly receiving arms shipments directly from Iran every month. These days, Iran has established military operations in Syria.
Hang on to your hat....
Well....
“Syrian air defenses” is a very broad statement. ** Could have been ** a state of the art Russian radar controlled SAM or MANPAD or
using the big sky - little bullet theory, they might have been unlucky enough to have run into a ZU-23-4 or -2 - an unlucky day on the job. AKA a magic bullet.
At least they got home.
Lots of add-on’s on that Israeli version. Weight has to be way up.
The Russian air defense system must be effective as advertised if manned by Ivan. Still do not underestimate Israel's ability to adapt. Putin is the Middle East wild card.
Yeah, you can see the extended fuel packs along the spine (they’re on each side, of course).
From what the Times of Israel is saying, this is all Iranian.
Persians are no slouches, either.
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