The Iran military claim that the downed plane has little damage. They say it was not shot down by jet fighters or ground defences, but using some kind of electronic interference:
The informed source said on Sunday that Iran Army’s electronic warfare unit successfully targeted the American-built RQ-170 Sentinel stealth aircraft after it crossed into Iranian airspace over the border with neighbouring Afghanistan.
The Iranians have claimed US drone kills many times, although they have never produced much proof of their claims. They haven’t shown any picture of the downed RQ-170 Sentinel. If they really killed it, I would imagine that they would like to brag about it with videos and pictures. On the other hand, if their “mostly intact” claims are true and they show it, then the US could demand that they return their highly-valued property. [IRNA (Translated) via Flight Global]
Matt
Monday, December 5, 2011 at 9:09 AMSeems pretty fair if they did destroy the drone.
The same thing would happen if an Iranian drone flew in US airspace without permission.
narthollis
Monday, December 5, 2011 at 10:07 AMYeah, indeed. Though I am fairly sure if that happened the US would use it as an excuse for an invasion.
cleverclogs
Monday, December 5, 2011 at 10:12 AMDid they use an EMP after getting an 18-kill streak?
Ghazarios
Wednesday, December 7, 2011 at 6:30 PMThey were were on a high kill streak until they took an arrow to the knee.
Michael Hubenschmidt
Tuesday, December 6, 2011 at 12:50 AMPretty ignorant to risk our best technology on an unmanned plane.Even for spying it would have been better to risk discovery with a common plane.Why is this country so stupid anymore??
Leo
Wednesday, December 7, 2011 at 7:43 AM“Why is this country so stupid anymore??”
Sigh. Read that attempt at a sentence again, and you’ll have your answer. :p