Not surprised...

[tfcrew]

...that the Iranians brought down an American spy drone

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/in-a-propaganda-coup-iran-displays-downed-us-drone/article2265291/

What really surprised me is that it did not employ a self-destruct function.
What's up with that?

[Eduard]

perhaps technical issues?

[Chicagoguy]

If the drone was shot down and crashed why do the pictures the Iranians show look so different from what one would expect ?

[calmissile]

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Military/2011/1207/US-considered-missions-to-destroy-RQ-170-Sentinel-drone-lost-in-Iran/(page)/2

"As Thompson notes, the RQ-170 has an automatic “return to base” feature in case it loses its data link with military or CIA drone operators in Afghanistan or the United States. Because that “carrier pigeon” capability did not kick in, it’s likely that the drone experienced a software or mechanical failure."

Paragraph from the linked article.

[calmissile]

Chicagoguy
I have never worked on our drone programs however I can postulate that in addition to a return to home navigation feature, it probably also has an crude autopilot or flight control system function that either puts it in a glide or a flat spin.  If this were the case it could expalin why it landed with relatively little damage.  We do the same thing with R/C planes.  I seriously doubt it was 'shot down'.

Tfcrew,
Good point.  It's got to be tradeoff of added cost/weight vs the expected value of destroying it.  Perhaps the thinking was that you could salvage most of the equipment from an autopilot  landing.  They might be rethinking this on the next generation

[calmissile]

The ladies buy the girly things for decorations....... engineers buy their own toys

Purchased new about 10-15 yrs ago.  Probably a dozen sold at local Ham swap meet by surplus company.

Hayes Target Drone.  Bi-propellant, radio control of ignition and mixture control.  Towed behind aircraft on long line for IR calibration of sensors.

[artisan5308]

don't Iran possess one now?

[Steamer]

"As Thompson notes, the RQ-170 has an automatic “return to base” feature in case it loses its data link with military or CIA drone operators in Afghanistan or the United States. Because that “carrier pigeon” capability did not kick in, it’s likely that the drone experienced a software or mechanical failure."

Either that or it ran out of gas.

[CanadaMan]

If the drone was shot down and crashed why do the pictures the Iranians show look so different from what one would expect ?

It must have been a calmissile.   

[tfcrew]

Either that or it ran out of gas.

Or steam?

perhaps technical issues?

Uuhh yeah. That's a given.
The Russians or Chinese could have been in on this one too.
 

[tfcrew]

After realizing that the Iranians were about to parade a perfectly functional drone with nary a scratch on it, the official story changed to “the drone landed because it wants to live” I kid you not that is the official story! ( See video at bottom of post)

http://www.conunderground.com/breaking-we-were-right-obama-gave-iran-the-drone/

[GQBlues]

tfcrew-
 
It may interest you to know about Ted Koppel's Rock center report which airs tonight at 10 PM/9 c. There's an assertion that this latest drone incident is somehow tied into what is happening in Basra currently and the daily barrage of Iranian missile attacks at the US consulate in the region. Maybe another Tonkin II...
 
http://rockcenter.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/12/9389050-as-us-military-withdraws-from-iraq-questions-remain-about-american-presence
 
 

[JR]

One of the best ways to mislead someone is to give them something plausible to look at, make it believeable enough to pass for real but not up to what you can actually accomplish. Or it's simply outdated. Or Obama wants to give the tech to one of the 57 states of America ))) Or....or.....or, let me get my right wing whacko suit on, it's in the closet (little rusty but with a little WD-40 it should be good as new in no time) and I'll come up with some even better stuff real quick

[acrzybear]

One of the best ways to mislead someone is to give them something plausible to look at, make it believeable enough to pass for real but not up to what you can actually accomplish. Or it's simply outdated. Or Obama wants to give the tech to one of the 57 states of America ))) Or....or.....or, let me get my right wing whacko suit on, it's in the closet (little rusty but with a little WD-40 it should be good as new in no time) and I'll come up with some even better stuff real quick

He just wants to share ther knowledge with his fellow Arabic brothers. What better way then doing it in plain site-it's perfect!!!  No wait, Bush is at fault.  (take your pick JR)

[kmin]

My guess is that the Iranians saw these drones and targeted this one with high energy or low energy RF Transmission (HERF & LERF).

This would have the effect of blocking communication with home base for the drone and it would have implemented the safety protocol of "looking for a safe place to land".

That being said Iran has the technology for radar and radio communication jamming.  It would also explain why the drone has minimal damage.

[JR]

My guess is that the Iranians saw these drones and targeted this one with high energy or low energy RF Transmission (HERF & LERF).

This would have the effect of blocking communication with home base for the drone and it would have implemented the safety protocol of "looking for a safe place to land".

That being said Iran has the technology for radar and radio communication jamming.  It would also explain why the drone has minimal damage.

Please tell me you're not serious.

[JR]

 I heard this thru inside sources, the names have been changed but the dialogue is absolutely exactly as it happened. It occurred in the US government’s uber secret facility deep beneath Denver’s new airport.
General Belcho to outloud to himself: “Damn it, we’ve got to find a way to penetrate Iran’s uber secret facility. Our satellites, spy planes and drones are useless. Our sensors can’t dig down that deep!”
Airman Whiz sheepishly pipes in: “Excuse me general but what a about sending one of our drones underground?”
General Belcho: “Whiz, are you stupid? How the hell we gonna get a $150 million dollar drone underground? Even at full throttle and straight down I’ll bet it’ll only penetrate 8 er 10 feet of dirt.”
Airman Whiz: “General, I was thinking along the lines of a Trojan Horse. You know we could just let one kinda fall into their laps. Then have it start transmitting data back to us.” We can make one out of semex so that when we’re done it’ll blow up in their faces and they’ll have nothing to look at.”
General Belcho: “Kid, you are the dumbest example of a human being I have ever seen. If you ever mention this idiotic idea of yours to anyone again I’ll bust you down so far you’ll have to look up to see the belly of a coackroach!”
The next day Airman Whiz is transferred to a brand new one man listening post at the tail end of the Aleutian Islands.
One week later General Belcho is addressing the Joint Chiefs: “Gentleman, I have found a way to penetrate Iran’s uber secret facility. What we do you see is take a drone made of semex and hand it to the Iranians, I call it Operation Trojan Horse………”

[kmin]

Please tell me you're not serious


Yes I am JR.

This is the main problem with radio controlled drones, they are controlled with radio waves.  If you disrupt the radio waves than it has to rely on programming or AI. 

[tfcrew]

Surprised...Obama actually asked for the drone back
Not Surprised....The Iranians want to play with their new found toy.

[GQBlues]

Surprised...Obama actually asked for the drone back....

 
 
I won't put it pass him. He might have to apologize for all us first....again.

[JR]

Please tell me you're not serious


Yes I am JR.

This is the main problem with radio controlled drones, they are controlled with radio waves.  If you disrupt the radio waves than it has to rely on programming or AI.

Oh gosh, I was afraid you might be serious...
Lets see, the thing is designed to go into places it isn't supposed to be and do things it isn't supposed to do. It was built thru hundreds of millions (probably billions) of dollars and untold amounts of time and the very best autonomous programming we can come up with is land right in the middle of where you're not supposed to be and give the technology to those we are trying to hide it from. Don't think so...
 RF interferrence isn't something new. Todays aircraft are shielded from it. That didn't happen. A guidance system failure would put it into limp mode and it would simply terrain follow back to base or to a rally point where is could either self dispose or be disposed of over some deep water where retrieval by snooping eyes would be unlikely.
My guess is that it suffered a propulsion system failure, ie: the engine quit.

[kmin]

JR,

From the AP Story http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/9987201

".....That alone confirmed experts' contention that the classified aircraft can be programmed to land safely if its communications link is lost.

Robotics expert Peter Singer, who has written about the use of drones in war, said the Sentinel is programmed to circle in the air or land if its communications link is lost. Until the video came out, U.S. officials and other experts were suggesting the drone may have crashed, leaving Iran with only scattered pieces....."

[JR]

of course it can and is programmed to land safely on it's own...oh never mind: you and I don't know squat about this thing and what it can and can't do. To me this looks very much like a dis-information attempt, hope it works beautifully.

[GQBlues]

of course it can and is programmed to land safely on it's own...oh never mind: you and I don't know squat about this thing and what it can and can't do. To me this looks very much like a dis-information attempt, hope it works beautifully.

I do.    I just bought myself one from Brookstone for Christmas. I just have to save up for the missile launcher option, is all...

[JR]

rocket smocket, I holdin out for the one shaped like a frickin shark with a fickin lazer beeem on it's head ))