The U.S. military's assessment of the drone attack that killed three U.S. soldiers in Jordan on Jan. 28 appears to contradict early speculation about how the enemy drone evaded detection. The decision was reached, The Washington Post reported on Tuesday.
U.S. defense officials initially speculated that the Iranian-backed aircraft had disrupted the Tower 22 radar system because it homed into the base at about the same time the U.S. military drone also returned to the base. But early findings from a military incident investigation into the deadly attack suggest the explosive-laden drone was flying too low to register on the base's detection system, the Post reported. reportThe report cited a U.S. defense official with direct knowledge of the assessment.
The drone missed “because of its low flight path,” a defense official told the Post on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive findings. Another defense official reportedly confirmed the account to the Post. (Related: Iran-backed group attacks U.S. military base three times since major counterattack, killing U.S. ally)
Additionally, Tower 22 does not operate systems capable of “killing” or destroying drone threats, but instead operates electronic warfare systems designed to neutralize enemy drones or disrupt their flight paths. officials said, the Post reported.
The military has not yet completed its investigation into the deadly drone attack, the newspaper said, adding that its assessment could change as new information comes to light. Until the Tower 22 attack in Jordan in late January, about 160 drone and rocket attacks against bases in Iraq and Syria starting on October 17 had not resulted in the deaths of any US soldiers.
Most drones were struck or shot down without damaging infrastructure. Some caused injuries such as traumatic brain injuries.
The newspaper said drone pilots sometimes intentionally fly low to avoid radar detection.
.@USARMY Equip the Coyote unmanned aircraft system with advanced seekers and warheads for counter-UAS missions. https://t.co/XQZvw4x1a1 #FIA18 pic.twitter.com/RFuzKdcQcK
— RTX (@RTX_News) July 17, 2018
Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder did not speak directly. To tell On Monday, whether the Department of Defense (DOD) is confident it maintains sufficient anti-drone defenses in the Middle East as attacks continue.
“I'm not going to say anything about the level of preparedness, other than clearly understanding that counter-drone is a key requirement and I can assure you that it is taken very seriously,” he told a news conference. Ta.
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) also declined to say whether the Iranian-backed militants who attacked Tower 22 were aware of deficiencies in its air defenses, the newspaper said.
Because most of the attacks took place in Iraq and Syria, Tower 22 in Jordan, just a few miles from the targeted U.S. military base in Syria, was considered a low-threat environment, defense officials told the Post. Ta.
“That was based on the majority of the threats and 99% of the threats. [Iranian-proxy] The attacks were against facilities in Iraq and Syria,” the official said. The official added that the base's defensive posture had changed since the attack, but did not provide further details.
“We are not waiting for the investigation to be completed to implement changes from the lessons learned in the tragic attack on Tower 22,” the official said.
Approximately 90 minutes after the attack on Tower 22, enemy drones targeted the al-Tanf garrison on the outskirts of Syria. Politico reportedsaid a Pentagon official and another U.S. official. However, the U.S. anti-drone unmanned aircraft system raytheon coyotea Pentagon official said.
CENTCOM did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation's request for confirmation of its initial assessment.
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