An Iranian F-4 fighter unsuccessfully tried this week to intercept an unarmed American MQ-1 Predator remotely piloted aircraft over international waters in the Arabian Gulf, said Pentagon Press Secretary George Little on Thursday. The incident occurred on March 12 when the Predator was conducting a routine surveillance flight and the Iranians sent the F-4 to intercept it. “The closest point of approach between these aircraft was approximately 16 miles,” said Little. The Iranian jet broke off the pursuit after a verbal warning from two US military aircraft escorting the Predator. “All US aircraft remained over international waters at all times,” said Little. Back in November, an Iranian Su-25 fired on a Predator that was also flying in international airspace above the gulf, but missed. The US government said at the time these surveillance missions would continue. (AFPS report by Jim Garamone)
A new report from the Government Accountability Office calls for the Pentagon’s Chief Technology Officer to have budget certification authority over the military services’ research and development accounts—a move the services say would add a burdensome and unnecessary layer of bureaucracy.
