Lebanon also revealed that at least one
missile was launched from a mobile
Kvadrat (SA-6 ‘Gainful’) SAM system.Retaliatory strike
The IAF air strike involved three F-16I Sufa
jets, most likely from 107 ‘Knights of the
Orange Tail’ Squadron based at Hatzerim.
At least two of the missiles fired by the
SyADF hit one of the F-16Is, which resulted
in it crashing over Galilee, in the north of
Israel. Both crew members ejected but
the pilot suffered severe injuries due to
ejecting at low altitude after the aircraft
had stalled and was spinning.
An IAF S-65 Yasur-2020 helicopter was
launched on a search and rescue mission,
recovering both crew and transporting the
injured pilot to hospital.
In retaliation for the F-16I loss, the IAF
conducted a second wave of air strikes
against six Syrian Arab Army and SyADF
targets simultaneously, using F-16I and
F-15I fighters. The targets were:- The Syrian Arab Army 175th Missile
and Artillery Regiment base, north of
Izra, Daraa - The SyADF 89th Air Defense Regiment
base at Jabab, near Daraa - A Syrian Arab Army ballistic missile base
at Al-Kiswah in the Damascus suburbs,
where IRGC personnel are also present - The 104th Airborne Brigade of the
Republican Guard in the Ad Durayj area in
the countryside of Damascus - The SyADF 150th Regiment, north of
Aleqain, Daraa - The SyADF 13th Brigade, north of Ad
Dimas, north-west of Damascus
At least one IAI Harop (or IAI Harpy 2)
attack drone was used as an anti-radiation
weapon to target the IRGC drone C2
facility at T4 air base.Iranian drone developments
Five days before the incident, during an
official ceremony at the Iranian Defense
Industries Organization facilities in
Lavizan, Tehran, 10 Mohajer-6 unmanned
combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs) were
handed over to the IRGC Ground Force.
This UCAV represents the latest generation
of the Mohajer family, designed by the
Ghods Aerospace Industries Company
and manufactured by the Iran Aircraft
Manufacturing Company (IAMI) since- The Mohajer-6 can carry two Qaem
infra-red/TV-guided bombs, an improved
and modernized variant of the Sadid smart
bomb. It has a combat radius of 350km
(217 miles).
The first combat mission for the Saeghe
UAV was planned as another propaganda
effort after the hand-over ceremony
for the first series-produced Mohajer-6
UCAVs. However, it ended with the death
of at least five IRGCASF drone controllers
and pilots at the force’s drone C2 center,
as well as the destruction of entire
batteries of air defense systems belonging
to the SyADF in the south of Syria.
Contrary to some regime claims, the
Saeghe UAV isn’t as capable as more
conventional and non-stealthy UAV/
UCAVs operated by the IRGCASF for
surveillance missions. As has now been
proven, its limited range, lack of satellite
communication and control systems and
low service ceiling make it vulnerable
to even the IAF’s AH-64D attack
helicopters.Above right: The
Israeli F-16I Sufa
that fell victim
to a Syrian SAM
was likely a jet
operated by
107 ‘Knights of
the Orange Tail’
Squadron based
at Hatzerim.
Hagar Amibar/IAF
Right: An AH-64D
Saraf from 113
‘Hornet’ Squadron
at Ramon air
base. The IAF
credited the
commander of
the squadron, Lt
Col ‘L’, with the
drone kill. IAFhttp://www.combataircraft.net // April 2018 29
28-29 Israel Shootdown C.indd 29 15/02/2018 12:48