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Pentagon investigation finds F-16s did detect Iraqi radar
November 8, 1996
Web posted at: 4:15 p.m. EST (2115 GMT)From Military Affairs Correspondent Jamie McIntyre
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Pentagon sources Friday verified signs of hostile radar signals in the Iraqi no-fly zone, which U.S. F- 16 pilots last weekend had cited to explain their act of firing radar-seeking missiles at an Iraqi mobile missile site.
According to the Pentagon, an investigation of two incidents in which U.S. F-16 jets fired the missiles while on patrol over Iraq determined that the planes did in fact detect hostile radar signals before firing.
After the first incident on November 2, the Pentagon issued a statement saying that "further analysis has not substantiated initial indications of Iraqi radar activity," and suggesting that the planes acted on a false alarm. However, officials are now saying the signals have been confirmed. The Pentagon began its investigation after the second, November 4 incident.
Both incidents occurred over southern Iraq's no-fly zone. Pentagon officials say their investigation shows that in both cases, cockpit warning indicators in the F-16s went off after detecting radar signals from an Iraqi mobile surface-to-air missile system.
One source told CNN that the planes detected a French-made "Roland" Mobile Anti-Aircraft Missile system, which was indicated by an "R" in the cockpit's warning instrumentation.
In each case the U.S. pilots fired HARM (High-Speed Anti Radiation) missiles at the missile radar. It is not known what the missiles hit, although in the November 2 incident, after the missile was fired the radar apparently stopped.
The U.S. says it has seen no other evidence of provocative activity by Iraq.
Iraq strongly denied that either incident had occurred, and accused the White House of spreading false reports to bolster U.S. President Clinton's re-election campaign. Iraqi President Saddam Hussein added that Iraq was committed to a decision reached in September not to fire at U.S. or Allied jets patrolling no-fly zones in southern and northern Iraq.
If true, the incident would be the first challenge to U.S. air patrols since early September when, following the U.S. cruise missile attacks, Iraq briefly used radar to target U.S. planes and fire missiles at them.
Related story:
- Pentagon investigates second missile launch - November 4, 1996
- U.S. plane again fires at Iraqi target - November 4, 1996
- Sources: U.S. F-16 fired missile at Iraqi missile site - November 2, 1996
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