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Last edited by ss12; 04-03-2026, 08:36 PM.Haters don't really hate you, in fact they hate themselves because you are a reflection of what they wish to be. -
It is not surprising that aircraft have been lost or damaged flying over contested war zone. The remarkable thing is that it has been so few. Compare this operation to 1991 over Iraq or even the early 2000s over Iraq again. The US even had aircraft shot down over Kosovo in the 90s. Just because the US forces are so high tech and proficient doesn't mean things can't happen. Just because the US has low observable (stealth) aircraft flying in theater doesn't mean those aircraft are exclusively invisible. An F-35 was tagged by what was likely a heat seeking missile, but the aircraft dubbed "Fat Amy" by the pilot community took the punishment and made it back to base with a rough landing. Stealth technology might be low observable to radar but engine exhaust is still hot and can be detected by heat seeking missiles.
Now the F-15E that was shot down has now seen both the front seater pilot and rear seater WSO rescued in what was probably one the greatest rescue operations in history. Even in that operation an A-10 took fire and was lost on return, two C-130s which got stuck in sand at a forward operating runway in Iran had to be abandoned and burned in situ along with a couple small helicopters. But no personnel were lost in a very successful operation.
Things which are concerning in this operation though. A mid air collision between two tankers which resulted in a total loss along with crew to one of the involved aircraft. Three F-15E Strike Eagles shot down by a Kuwaiti F-18 which ripple fired heat seeking missiles at those aircraft as they were returning to base. That episode is highly suspect and it has been rumored the Kuwaiti pilot was arrested after the incident. The loss of some more tankers along with an AWACS as they were parked on the tarmac in Saudi Arabia to a drone/missile attack was also a significant loss and puts base security in question for why these were such easy targets. Some claim that targeting information was provided by Russia.
The thing is, in any major operation, even in major training operations and deployments wrong things can happen. Mechanical failures can happen, accidents can happen, and basically just things can happen. This operation has been rather remarkable so far in comparison to the past and it would be ridiculous to expect 100% perfection, especially when you are still getting shot at and in many cases coming down to lower levels to more successfully service targets which can put you closer to some still existing air defenses.
What's your point?Political correctness,...is the inability to speak the truth about the obvious. -
Haters don't really hate you, in fact they hate themselves because you are a reflection of what they wish to be.Comment
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