U-2 Spy planes
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http://www.caa.co.za/publications_files/CAA Media Scan/Feb2003/19.2.03.htm
Baghdad - The United Nations confirmed on Tuesday that a first U2 spy plane has overflown Iraq and that outstanding issues over the surveillance missions have now been "sorted out".
"I can confirm the flight, and if the flight took place it means that things have been sorted out," Hiro Ueki, spokesperson for the UN disarmament inspectors in Iraq said.
The United Nations had insisted the flights be allowed without conditions, but Baghdad demanded to be informed about the timing of the flights and points of entry into Iraqi aispace.
The Iraqi foreign ministry announced that a first U2 spy plane overflew Iraq Monday and surveyed several areas for four hours and 20 minutes.
It was the first surveillance flight over Iraq by the United Nations since arms inspections resumed in November, following a break since December 1998 when Iraq suffered three nights of US and British air strikes for failing to cooperate with arms inspectors.
On February 10, Iraq sought to stave off war by agreeing unconditionally to UN demands for U2, French Mirage and Russian Antonov surveillance flights over its territory to back the new weapons inspections process.
Operating the U2 aircraft to monitor Iraq's weapons programs had been a long-standing demand by the UN arms inspectors.
U2s fly at altitudes of more than 70 000 feet. They are best at scanning fixed installations and can spend more time over sites than spy satellites, which can only take a few minutes of pictures each day.
Baghdad had been reluctant to authorise the U2 operations on the grounds that it could not guarantee the safety of the flights as long as US and British war planes patrolled "no-fly" zones in the north and south of Iraq. - Sapa-AFP
Baghdad - The United Nations confirmed on Tuesday that a first U2 spy plane has overflown Iraq and that outstanding issues over the surveillance missions have now been "sorted out".
"I can confirm the flight, and if the flight took place it means that things have been sorted out," Hiro Ueki, spokesperson for the UN disarmament inspectors in Iraq said.
The United Nations had insisted the flights be allowed without conditions, but Baghdad demanded to be informed about the timing of the flights and points of entry into Iraqi aispace.
The Iraqi foreign ministry announced that a first U2 spy plane overflew Iraq Monday and surveyed several areas for four hours and 20 minutes.
It was the first surveillance flight over Iraq by the United Nations since arms inspections resumed in November, following a break since December 1998 when Iraq suffered three nights of US and British air strikes for failing to cooperate with arms inspectors.
On February 10, Iraq sought to stave off war by agreeing unconditionally to UN demands for U2, French Mirage and Russian Antonov surveillance flights over its territory to back the new weapons inspections process.
Operating the U2 aircraft to monitor Iraq's weapons programs had been a long-standing demand by the UN arms inspectors.
U2s fly at altitudes of more than 70 000 feet. They are best at scanning fixed installations and can spend more time over sites than spy satellites, which can only take a few minutes of pictures each day.
Baghdad had been reluctant to authorise the U2 operations on the grounds that it could not guarantee the safety of the flights as long as US and British war planes patrolled "no-fly" zones in the north and south of Iraq. - Sapa-AFP
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Joined: May 2004
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From: Vienna, VA
^well, we don't go flying them over china or anything
A U2 wouldn't survive a few minutes with them.
I have my doubts we fly them over Iran, too. They have the air defense capacity to shoot them down.
Pre-war iraq and north korea are easier to handle.
A U2 wouldn't survive a few minutes with them.I have my doubts we fly them over Iran, too. They have the air defense capacity to shoot them down.
Pre-war iraq and north korea are easier to handle.
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From: West Springfield MA
Maybe.
The Air Force and Air National Guard both fly the F-15 Eagle. In its use by US forces in the first Gulf War, and by the Israelis, none has ever been lost in combat. On 9/11, at least two of these scrambled from Cape Cod and were over New York about the time the second tower was hit. had there been additiona aircraft targeting NYC, they would not have reached their targets.
Hopwever, a sudden change of flight path cannot be stopped in most cases.
The Air Force and Air National Guard both fly the F-15 Eagle. In its use by US forces in the first Gulf War, and by the Israelis, none has ever been lost in combat. On 9/11, at least two of these scrambled from Cape Cod and were over New York about the time the second tower was hit. had there been additiona aircraft targeting NYC, they would not have reached their targets.
Hopwever, a sudden change of flight path cannot be stopped in most cases.