U.S. pilot scares off Iranians with 'Top Gun'-worthy stunt

[happy]

The U.S. Air Force has a message for Iran: Don't mess with our drones.

In what only can be described as a scene out of Tom Cruise's "Top Gun," Gen. Mark A. Welsh III, Air Force chief of staff, describes how F-22 stealth jets scared off Iranian jets from a U.S. drone flying in international airspace.

The Aviationist reports that in March a U.S. MQ-1 drone came close to being intercepted by an Iranian F-4 Phantom combat plane, but the Iranian aircraft stopped short after a warning by an American pilot.

"He [the Raptor pilot] flew under their aircraft [the F-4s] to check out their weapons load without them knowing that he was there, and then pulled up on their left wing and then called them and said 'you really ought to go home,'" Gen. Welsh said.

According to The Aviationist, the Iranians came within 16 miles of the drone.


Read more: U.S. pilot scares off Iranians with 'Top Gun'-worthy stunt: 'You really ought to go home' - Washington Times
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This is an old news. It just shows the tremendous capabilities of F-22. Wondering if it could repeat the same thing with our LCA or any other fighter??

 

[Singh]

if this is true, then this by far is the most epic thing I've ever read.

 

[happy]

I am not an expert but it just seems pretty scary if your enemy can sneak under or behind you from right before your eyes and in this case you cant see him which makes the matter hell of a lot worse. F4 are quite obsolete but they too must have some kind of radar ??

 

[SajeevJino]

I get the News when the Incident Happens .I can surely say It's Two IRAF F14 Tom cats ..Not the F-4 Phantom

http://defenceforumindia.com/forum/west-asia-africa/20816-syrian-crisis-183.html#post785042

Post No 2745

This is also from aviationist.com when the incident Happens Mar 14 2013

The Aviationist » Iranian F-4 Phantom jets fail to intercept U.S. Predator off Iran. Once again. Scared by F-22 escort?

Again I will say It was the F 14 not the F 4

http://defenceforumindia.com/forum/military-aviation/1326-lockheed-martin-f-22-raptor-9.html#post790433

 

[happy]

http://defenceforumindia.com/forum/military-aviation/1326-lockheed-martin-f-22-raptor-9.html#post790433

Hey, thanks for showing the discussion in f-22 thread .

@mods Maybe, it would be better to merge this thread with that because I am also talking about the capabilities of f-22.

BTW, Wondering if it could repeat the same thing with our LCA or any other fighter??

 

[bennedose]

F-22 nearr Iran? Where did it take off from? I know that F-22s have been to Japan, but not based there. I doubt if any are based in Germany. I would have thought that none are based in the west Asia. So did this F 22 fly in supercruisin' from the US of A to scare an F 4 off a drone?

 

[bennedose]

How does an F-22 pilot call an Iranian F-4 that he has just buzzed and tell him that he really ought to go home? He has no idea what frequency the Iranian pilot is set to receive - so he has to broadcast on some open channel that everyone is supposed to keep open and then make an announcement. How would the F-4 pilot know that he is being addressed? The F-22 pilot would have to specifically say that he is calling the Iranian F-4. How would the F-22 pilot know that the Iranian pilot has got the message? The Iranian would have to acknowledge that he has heard what is being said. Would they have spoken in English? Or Farsi?

This story sounds like the usual myth building that occurs - stories that are neither confirmed nor denied. The US is master of these games. Funnily enough, Pakistan plays this game better than India.

 

[Ray]

An interceptor may attempt to establish communications via standard ICAO signals. In time-critical situations where the interceptor is seeking an immediate response from the intercepted aircraft or if the intercepted aircraft remains non-compliant to instruction, the interceptor pilot may initiate a divert maneuver. In this maneuver, the interceptor flies across the intercepted aircraft's flight path (minimum 500 feet separation and commencing from slightly below the intercepted aircraft altitude) in the general direction the intercepted aircraft is expected to turn. The interceptor will rock its wings (daytime) or flash external lights/select afterburners (night) while crossing the intercepted aircraft's flight path. The interceptor will roll out in the direction the intercepted aircraft is expected to turn before returning to verify the aircraft of interest is complying. The intercepted aircraft is expected to execute an immediate turn to the direction of the intercepting aircraft. If the aircraft of interest does not comply, the interceptor may conduct a second climbing turn across the intercepted aircraft's flight path (minimum 500 feet separation and commencing from slightly below the intercepted aircraft altitude) while expending flares as a warning signal to the intercepted aircraft to comply immediately and to turn in the direction indicated and to leave the area. The interceptor is responsible to maintain safe separation during these and all intercept maneuvers. Flight safety is paramount.

http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/aim/aim0506.html

***************************

Its an interesting point raised and this is what I found.

Then called them and said 'you really ought to go home,'"

This appears a bit confusing ot me.

How did he had the Iranian aircraft frequency?

 

[SajeevJino]

F-22 nearr Iran? Where did it take off from? I know that F-22s have been to Japan, but not based there. I doubt if any are based in Germany. I would have thought that none are based in the west Asia. So did this F 22 fly in supercruisin' from the US of A to scare an F 4 off a drone?

Thy are Stationed near UAE ..more than Five F 22 Raptor is Deployed there ..

 

[SajeevJino]

How does an F-22 pilot call an Iranian F-4 that he has just buzzed and tell him that he really ought to go home? He has no idea what frequency the Iranian pilot is set to receive - so he has to broadcast on some open channel that everyone is supposed to keep open and then make an announcement. How would the F-4 pilot know that he is being addressed? The F-22 pilot would have to specifically say that he is calling the Iranian F-4. How would the F-22 pilot know that the Iranian pilot has got the message? The Iranian would have to acknowledge that he has heard what is being said. Would they have spoken in English? Or Farsi?

This story sounds like the usual myth building that occurs - stories that are neither confirmed nor denied. The US is master of these games. Funnily enough, Pakistan plays this game better than India.

When the Incident Happens I get the Classified news from My Friend

According to him

There are two F 14 Tom cats are deployed to intercept a Global HAWK UAV from the US patrolling along the Iranian Border

Suddenly their Radars are Jammed and there is no Further Communications are established to the Base ..the Pilots saw a F 22 Raptor Roaring their Heads and almost in Collision Position. Then the F 14's are escaped from the Field

But The Italian Piolt David Cenciotti Said in his Blog Aviationsist ..There are only one F4 phantoms are deployed to intercept a UAV

 

[The Messiah]

I call bollocks.

 

[drkrn]

F-22 nearr Iran? Where did it take off from? I know that F-22s have been to Japan, but not based there. I doubt if any are based in Germany. I would have thought that none are based in the west Asia. So did this F 22 fly in supercruisin' from the US of A to scare an F 4 off a drone?

america has bases in middle east.news erupted few months ago stating that usa is considering to move f-22 in to middle east bases to counter iran's military.

 

[drkrn]

Thy are Stationed near UAE ..more than Five F 22 Raptor is Deployed there ..

.........

 

[Decklander]

An interceptor may attempt to establish communications via standard ICAO signals. In time-critical situations where the interceptor is seeking an immediate response from the intercepted aircraft or if the intercepted aircraft remains non-compliant to instruction, the interceptor pilot may initiate a divert maneuver. In this maneuver, the interceptor flies across the intercepted aircraft's flight path (minimum 500 feet separation and commencing from slightly below the intercepted aircraft altitude) in the general direction the intercepted aircraft is expected to turn. The interceptor will rock its wings (daytime) or flash external lights/select afterburners (night) while crossing the intercepted aircraft's flight path. The interceptor will roll out in the direction the intercepted aircraft is expected to turn before returning to verify the aircraft of interest is complying. The intercepted aircraft is expected to execute an immediate turn to the direction of the intercepting aircraft. If the aircraft of interest does not comply, the interceptor may conduct a second climbing turn across the intercepted aircraft's flight path (minimum 500 feet separation and commencing from slightly below the intercepted aircraft altitude) while expending flares as a warning signal to the intercepted aircraft to comply immediately and to turn in the direction indicated and to leave the area. The interceptor is responsible to maintain safe separation during these and all intercept maneuvers. Flight safety is paramount.

http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/aim/aim0506.html

***************************

Its an interesting point raised and this is what I found.



This appears a bit confusing ot me.

How did he had the Iranian aircraft frequency?

when intercepted we switch to international distress frequancy 121.5/243 MHz. We always keep a watch on this frequancy.

 

[asianobserve]

The silence from the proud IRIAF is deafening...

 

[W.G.Ewald]

F-22 nearr Iran? Where did it take off from? I know that F-22s have been to Japan, but not based there. I doubt if any are based in Germany. I would have thought that none are based in the west Asia. So did this F 22 fly in supercruisin' from the US of A to scare an F 4 off a drone?

Good question. If not PhotoShop, this may be the answer.

 

[asianobserve]

General's Bold Account Of US F-22, Iranian F-4 Engagement
General's Bold Account Of US F-22, Iranian F-4 Engagement - AVweb flash Article

The Air Force, through Chief of Staff General Mark Welsh, has publicized an account (perhaps the first) involving the engagement of an F-22 Raptor and Iranian F-4s flying within 16 miles of an MQ-1 Predator drone as the UAV flew over international waters off the coast of Iran. Welsh delivered the account Tuesday, saying the event took place in March. According to Welsh, Air Force Reservist Lt. Col. Kevin "Showtime" Sutterfield closed on the F-4s while flying the Raptor. Per the account, Sutterfield flew the jet to well within visual range, unnoticed. He slipped the fighter under the wings of one of the Iranian jets "to check out their weapons load without them knowing that he was there." And then, according to Welsh, Sutterfield "pulled up on their left wing" and "called them and said 'you really ought to go home.'"

Welsh delivered the account before an audience of fellow service members at the Air Force Association's Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition, according to Military.com. The exact location of F-22s deployed in the region has not been released. The military has said instead that Raptors are based in Southwest Asia. Questions surrounding Welsh's account include whether or not other airborne operations vectored or supported the Raptor's approach, allowing it to avoid use of radar and safely maintain stealth while closing on the F-4s, distance between the jets while flying in close formation, and concerns for potential outcomes should the event have become complicated by acts of aggression or error. The Predator, meanwhile, is said to have been conducting reconnaissance while flying over international waters. Earlier Predator flights had attracted airborne response in the form of Iranian jets. Sutterfield's action in March successfully warned them off, said Welch.

 

[W.G.Ewald]

when intercepted we switch to international distress frequancy 121.5/243 MHz. We always keep a watch on this frequancy.

Maybe why EPIRBs on vessels don't use that frequency anymore.