The UK news is full of controversy surrounding the friendly fire death in Iraq in 2003. Two A10's attacked four Scimitar light tracked vehicles which were on a reconnaissance mission north of Basra with 30 mm cannon. This left one dead and one wounded. It appears the US military wanted the cockpit footage classified but it has appeared online at the sun.co.uk, one of our tabloid newspapers.
Much information isnt verified, although the vehicles were south of the Shait-al-arab waterway, some reports suggest the US planes were told enemy vehicles lay to the north and that was where they should attack. Other reports say they were Idaho ANG pilots, a Colonel and a Major with no combat experience (would that make a difference, they must still be highly trained?)
Now many issues of the incident leave some concern but I accept that friendly fire incidents will always happen , the audio clearly shows that the pilots are devastated when they realise what has happened. They are operating in a confused situation, the ground controllers seem unsure where friendlies are etc. Although they know that allied forces have orange panels on vehicles, the pilots 'think' they are looking at trucks with orange rockets on them, but even after the first straffing run, they still ask each other " is that what you think they are?"
Whilst the tabloids will focus on the pilots, this footage starts at 12,000 feet, the firing at 5,000 feet.
Is the A10 too low tech to identify targets clearly at that altitude? if the pilots need to debate what they might be seeing, does this suggest that the aircraft shouldnt be tasked with roving ahead of a fast moving advance, where enemy pockets merge with allied movements? After a similar incident in 1991 why hasnt a better command and control or IFF procedures been found?
The A10 is currently being upgraded with such kit as the Litening SNIPER XR pod, better FLIR and TV. Does anyone have any information on the capabilities of this upgrade?(I can only get the 'world beating' blurb on the Locheed Site) Could the pilots in future get a clear picture of ground targets from heights such as 12,000 feet?
The more sensible press in the UK are pointing out that we inflicted Blue on blue incidents as well, its just that the A10 is now in the minds of the public and no doubt the UK troops who will work underneath it. (That said we couldnt do without US airpower, army sources in Afghanistan have criticised the performance of the RAF Harrier in close air support, hence an urgent competition is running for a contract which the Sniper pod may win).
This incident shouldnt have made such a negative impression, The widow shouldnt have been told the video didnt exist, if it was shown earlier the matter would have settled, I cant see how a video of a 30 year old aircraft using a gun in daylight could have given away too many secrets, the HUD data could have been blacked out.
Thoughts to the widow and family and also to the pilots who have to live with a mistake made in war.
Much information isnt verified, although the vehicles were south of the Shait-al-arab waterway, some reports suggest the US planes were told enemy vehicles lay to the north and that was where they should attack. Other reports say they were Idaho ANG pilots, a Colonel and a Major with no combat experience (would that make a difference, they must still be highly trained?)
Now many issues of the incident leave some concern but I accept that friendly fire incidents will always happen , the audio clearly shows that the pilots are devastated when they realise what has happened. They are operating in a confused situation, the ground controllers seem unsure where friendlies are etc. Although they know that allied forces have orange panels on vehicles, the pilots 'think' they are looking at trucks with orange rockets on them, but even after the first straffing run, they still ask each other " is that what you think they are?"
Whilst the tabloids will focus on the pilots, this footage starts at 12,000 feet, the firing at 5,000 feet.
Is the A10 too low tech to identify targets clearly at that altitude? if the pilots need to debate what they might be seeing, does this suggest that the aircraft shouldnt be tasked with roving ahead of a fast moving advance, where enemy pockets merge with allied movements? After a similar incident in 1991 why hasnt a better command and control or IFF procedures been found?
The A10 is currently being upgraded with such kit as the Litening SNIPER XR pod, better FLIR and TV. Does anyone have any information on the capabilities of this upgrade?(I can only get the 'world beating' blurb on the Locheed Site) Could the pilots in future get a clear picture of ground targets from heights such as 12,000 feet?
The more sensible press in the UK are pointing out that we inflicted Blue on blue incidents as well, its just that the A10 is now in the minds of the public and no doubt the UK troops who will work underneath it. (That said we couldnt do without US airpower, army sources in Afghanistan have criticised the performance of the RAF Harrier in close air support, hence an urgent competition is running for a contract which the Sniper pod may win).
This incident shouldnt have made such a negative impression, The widow shouldnt have been told the video didnt exist, if it was shown earlier the matter would have settled, I cant see how a video of a 30 year old aircraft using a gun in daylight could have given away too many secrets, the HUD data could have been blacked out.
Thoughts to the widow and family and also to the pilots who have to live with a mistake made in war.
