From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Reserve pilot describes downing Iranian drones: It was like ‘Top Gun’ meets ‘Star Wars’
An Israeli Air Force reserve pilot who took part in the effort to down the hundreds of drones and missiles fired at Israel by Iran describes the experience as the most complex mission he has taken part in, saying it was like “‘Top Gun’ meets ‘Star Wars.'”
The officer, identified only as Major G, tells the UK’s Telegraph paper that as a reserve officer he was called up from home on Saturday, took part in the mission, and was back in his law office on Sunday by 4 p.m. “shooting off emails.”
“It really was a different thing with hundreds of those UAVs and missiles in the air getting intercepted around you, like ‘Top Gun’ meets ‘Star Wars,’ endless explosions and interceptions going on around you,” he tells the paper.
“It was the most complicated mission I’ve done in 20 years in the air force, knowing that if there is a missed target, maybe it blows up in Israel,” he says.
Iran fired more than 300 drones and missiles, with 99% intercepted by Israeli and allied countries’ forces.
“We flew in an amazing coalition with the US, UK and other forces and on the one hand it was a very aggressive attack coordinated by Iran, one which maybe we haven’t seen in modern warfare, but you’re seeing absolute defense in action,” he says.
“It’s always harder to find and take down these targets in the night. They’re flying really low and so you fly low too but you’re unable to see the ground,” he adds.
“You rely on sensors, but at some points it’s really close. You’re seeing street lights or other things on the ground very close to you and it’s a very uncomfortable feeling. But we’re well trained for that and we’ve proven this time that we know how to get the job done,” Major G says.
The Times of Israel Community.