The morning broke with news of a large-scale US operation to supposedly extract the second downed pilot from Iran, who had ejected from his shot-down F-15E on Thursday.
  • Gork@sopuli.xyz
    33·
    2 days ago

    This speaks to a more general problem I’m having following this war: struggling to find actual factual reports from what’s happening.

    Between Trump’s unhinged tweets and Hegseth’s bloodthirsty machismo, trying to get anything from the US is like talking to a bucket.

    Edit: I was thinking about the C-130 and it’s role in this based on the article. It is technically possible to perform an extraction with such an aircraft with the Cold War era CIA Fulton STARS “Skyhook” device, you might remember it from a scene in The Dark Knight when Batman exfils someone quickly from a building. A balloon is sent up and the C-130 grabs it, along with whoever is attached to it.

    I don’t think this is likely because the downed pilot would have to have such a system ready to go (unlikely if you’re downed from another plane), a balloon would be a giant “here I am” to the Iranians searching for him, and the timing and execution would need to be precise and flawless. And if it happened, no doubt it would be reported on by someone, somewhere.

    • FriendBesto@lemmy.ml
      6·
      8 hours ago

      Personally, I think it is BS.

      They downed 2 pilots. What is an A-10, an air to ground, anti-tank support aircraft and a F15e doing so deep into Iran territory? Found the airstrip the C130 landed and it is south of Tehran. Why are they there?

      Why use C-130s to carry a so-called rescue mission? A large cargo plane that needs to land? When a far more nimble helicopter(s) could be used along with air support? With no need for an air strip and not provide such large and slow heat seeking missile/radar profile to hit?

      Something else is going on. The downed pilot seems like a cover. Will see what I can find. But his is all very sus to me.

      Edit:

      No, it wasn’t a pilot. It was a pilot, and a “weapons system operator,” usually a Lt. or a Captain in rank. What is a WSO doing there? The pilot’s rank was a Coronel and is the Vice-Wing commander of the USA in Jordan. WTF? Why was he there? Seems like they planning something, and that is why he was there? The WSO was not recovered, the other pilot was.

      They then mounted a rescue, using PJs, which are top tier para-troopers. and that is why the A-10 was there.

      The ACs where AC-130Js, high speed, specifically designed for the special operations which can carry two small, AH6 helicopters, which four were destroyed on the site. AH6s are not rescue aircraft, they do not have the range.

      https://www.americanspecialops.com/usaf-special-operations/aircraft/ac-130j-ghostrider/

      The claim right now is that the WSO broke his ankle on landing, hiked almost 8km and then climbed a 7,000ft mountain to hide? More likely he handed there. Right.

      This all sounds like a recon operation of some sort gone wrong. I mean they sent so many assets. Likely because the WSO is a high value asset given the info he knows. They also claim that the two AC-130s got stuck in the sand? Yeah, no. One plane maybe, two planes? Extremely unlikely. Plus 100 rangers and Navy Seals? Plus two even more planes, C295s. Plus 2 lost drones. Also, Navy Seals generally do not do search and rescue it ain’t their thing.

      Checked the math, USA lost about $500 worth of aircraft in one day alone. The Iranian found an ID of a woman, Amada Ryder from the wreck of the planes who had Israel papers.

      This rescue mission sounds like cheer propaganda and a decoy story.

  • CircaV@lemmy.caEnglish
    252·
    2 days ago

    US should get very used to failure. Their country is the epitome of a failed state. Can’t wait until it falls apart like the USSR did in 1991.

  • panda_abyss@lemmy.ca
    16·
    2 days ago

    Those are some staggering losses if true. It completely tears away their claim they destroyed all air defence and the military.

    I’m a boy shocked there aren’t casualties being claimed. I don’t think I believe they got stuck in mud, just like a lot of the ogre engine trouble claims.

    But the US can’t really be open about these losses of it confirms to Iran which strategies are working.

    • toast@retrolemmy.com
      6·
      2 days ago

      I’m a boy shocked there aren’t casualties being claimed. I don’t think I believe they got stuck in mud, just like a lot of the ogre engine trouble claims.

      Exclude me, but what our you saying hear?

    • BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today
      2·
      2 days ago

      It completely tears away their claim they destroyed all air defence and the military.

      A couple of days before, they were crowing about having total air superiority, that allows them to fly deep into Iranian territory to find targets. A day or two later, the Iranians shot down this plane, and then one of the rescue planes as well.

      The Iranians obviously sandbagged them, and waited until they showed up to cause trouble. Oldest trick in the book, and Hegseth fell for it like a fucking Cub Scout.