Based on multiple sources and bits of information, the American drone in question (MQ-1 Predator) was conducting a survelliance flight very close to Iranian coast (16 miles gap) on March 12, 2013, and this is why IRIAF dispatched 2 x F-4 Phantoms (upgraded with Chinese avionics) to intercept it. However, an F-22A Raptor (VLO mode) approached these F-4 Phantoms
undetected in this mission and issued a warning to them, and IRIAF jets had no choice but to abort consequently.
FYI:
https://www.wearethemighty.com/history/f-22-maricked-iranian-fighters?rebelltitem=1#rebelltitem1
How about you come to terms with the fact that high-quality stealth works as advertised? Or do you think that IRIAF would intentionally ignore American Jets but go after American drones while operating near Iranian coasts?
1.1. Multiple RQ-170 UAV were involved in penetrating Iran's airspace and conducting surveillance operations over the
locations of interest since 2009 = high penetration rate. Yes, this is true - just wait for declassified information to surface.
1.2. RQ-170 UAV are LO class but not VLO class = detection possible in daylight conditions.
1.3. Malfunction theory cannot be ruled out in case of the loss of an RQ-170 variant over Iran in 2011. Not the first time an American UAV have suffered malfunction and crash-landed in a hostile region, this have happened over Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
My point is that just because Iran got its hands on an RQ-170 variant in 2011, this incident does not prove that Iranian defenses are foolproof and stealthy technologies are redundant.
Consider the case of Serbia.
On 27 March, 1999, Serbian defenses somehow noticed and shot down an F-117A Nighthawk bird which is really impressive feat, worth boasting about. However, this feat did not make stealthy technologies redundant over Serbia, and NATO wrecked Serbian defenses much like any other since 1991.
12 x F-117A were committed to
Operation Noble Anvil (i.e. bombing Serbia to submission) and they collectively recorded
850 sorties over Serbia, delivering heavy blows to Serbian infrastructure in the process.
Details in this link:
https://www.f-117a.com/AFMissions.html
Operation Noble Anvil lasted
78 days, and Serbian defenses managed to shoot down
only 3 American combat aircraft throughout (F-117A = 1; F-16CG = 1; RQ-1 Predator UAV = 1). The loss of an F-117A occurred on the 3rd day of operation (early on).
So?
B-2 Spirit bomber is VLO across all bands, a marvel of engineering with nothing at par to this day - these monsters conducted
50 sorties over Serbia and terrorized Serbians unlike any other asset. Even the pilot of the
ill-fated F-117A over Serbia experienced shockwaves emanating from a bombing raid of a B-2 over Belgrade while taking cover deep inside enemy territory. B-2 is the most expensive aircraft ever built (2 billion USD a piece) but the effort was worth it; B-2 is designed to frustrate even the most capable defensive arrangements anywhere in the world. Obtaining a lock on a B-2 Spirit even in daylight conditions is exceedingly difficult, let alone in nighttime conditions. To this day, in spite of so much publicity, B-2 remains one of the least understood assets in existence (its technologies are among the most concealed in public domain).
Emphasis mine. Do not jump to premature conclusions and do not be under any illusion; American technologies have delivered results before and they will deliver results again and again, mind you. Ever wonder why China is so keen to learn about American technologies, to the point of offering large sums of money to potential agents?
Full-scale war with NATO/US would be unlike YOU have ever experienced before. To this day, Serbia have not fully recovered from the blows it have received from NATO in 1999.
- and neither have Iraq and Libya.
Wait, your assets are the radar-evading types
but American...
2.1. Iran is nowhere close to US in the matters of stealth-related sciences even with access to an RQ-170 variant in its hands, mind you. Even Russia, with its technological prowess and access to remains of both F-117A in Serbia and RQ-170 in Iran, still failed to develop anything on par with American VLO aircraft.
That was an advanced Iranian RQ-170 copy, Israeli officials found it to be impressive upon recovering its wreckage.
True VLO class aircraft are exceedingly difficult and expensive to develop, mind you.
2.2. Americans have developed and fielded
the most powerful radar systems in the world -
3 decades ahead of anything in Russian and Chinese hands at present, and by extension Iranian. To give you a rough idea, Russia is sitting at 1st generation AESA technology whereas US is sitting at 4th generation AESA technology at present.
AN/SPY-1D(v) sensor system on-board the Arleigh Burke class destroyer can identify and track a target having an RCS of 0.0025 m^2 at ranges in excess of 165 KM on 3.3 GHz frequency (George Lewis and Theodore Postol). And in case you didn't knew, SPY-1D(v) have managed to notice and track ballistic missiles having an RCS of 0.03 m^2 at distances in excess of 1000 KM (heritage.org).
Green highlights = integrated set-of-sensor systems under the Aegis Combat System for collective target search and acquisition capabilities (sensor netting).
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Regarding your assertion of Houthi-operated assets humiliating all American made 'junks' in KSA and UAE:-
Please tell me what the Houthi-operated assets have accomplished in KSA and UAE besides publicity stunts/propaganda coups? Did they cripple defensive arrangements of KSA and UAE?
CAPTION: As of April 4, 2019, there have been
133 publicly reported intercepts of missiles fired from Yemen.
Latest development:-
Caught in the act.
Saudi defensive arrangements are taking care of Houthi-operated UAV as well, wherever possible.
For example:
https://www.thenational.ae/world/me...wn-drone-aimed-at-kingdom-from-yemen-1.834654
Recent development:
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/Ne...epts-two-Houthi-drones-over-Saudi-Arabia.html
Please keep in mind that the defensive arrangements of both KSA and UAE are advanced as per the standards of the Middle East but not at par with USN and USAF, not even close.
Both KSA and UAE mainly operate MIM-104 Patriot batteries armed with 2nd generation interceptors (PAC-2 class) at present, but KSA have acquired and stationed a MIM-104 Patriot battery armed with 3rd generation interceptors (PAC-3 class) in Mecca which have 100% intercept record against Burkan class ballistic missiles near its location.
MIM-104 Patriot (any configuration) is actually a
point-defense system, suitable for
protecting high-value targets; long-range against aircraft and drones but not against ballistic missiles. Nevertheless, PAC-2 and PAC-3 class interceptors have defeated MRBM class targets as well when they flew overhead at short distances, and this is very very impressive as per the standards of point-defense system worldwide. Please show me Russian-origin S-300 variants in Iranian hands having comparable performance levels, go ahead.
Easy for you to make fun of the defensive arrangements of other countries when your own are largely unproven and mostly hype - reason is that Iranian defenses are not thoroughly tested to this day.
There are gaps in the defensive arrangements of KSA in particular due to its huge geography, and small UAV can slip through unnoticed at times, but this is true for Iran as well.
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Regarding you assertion of Houthi being 2 decades behind Iran in terms of war-fighting capabilities:-
Houthi are receiving the very best of Iranian technical input and parts in reality.
Only USN, with its state-of-the-art defenses, was capable of neutralizing these C-802 derivatives near Yemeni coasts.
FYI:
https://defence.pk/pdf/threads/uss-...ise-missiles-in-yemeni-waters-in-2016.543523/
"U.S navy isn't a threat to us, just an easy target" - yeah sure.
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PRIDE HATH A FALL, sonny.