The Lockheed Martin RQ-170 Sentinel is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed by Lockheed Martin and operated by the United States Air Force (USAF) for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). While the USAF has released few details on the UAV’s design or capabilities, defense analysts believe that it is a stealth aircraft fitted with aerial reconnaissance equipment.
RQ-170s have been reported to have operated in Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. It has been confirmed that the UAVs have operated over Pakistan and Iran; operations over Pakistan included sorties that collected intelligence before and during the operation which led to the death of Osama bin Laden in May 2011.
In December 2011, the Iranian armed forces claimed to have captured an RQ-170 flying over Iran. The US military has acknowledged losing an RQ-170 in the region. United States administration asked Iran to return the UAV. Iran denied the request and lodged a complaint to the UN Security Council over airspace violation by the US.
United States administration asked Iran to return the UAV.
LMAO now that took balls. That must have given the Iranians quite a good laugh as well. Seriously, who was smoking the crack pipe at the State Dept. on that day.
or why not returning the Iran’s gold back to them?
The RQ-170 does have some stealth capabilities. However, their are two additional drones that have significantly more stealth abilities in the US arsenal. And a third in the hanks of the UK’s SAS. Also, the US does in fact have more then 70 of the RQ-170 confirmed. Many of which are in short term storage, and only up to two dozen are running active flights around the world. Including inside of the arctic circle, and over Africa. Their are multiple RQ-170 (around 6) on air craft carriers and inside of Bahrain near Iranians borders. But last I knew a year ago, those are not taking active flights near Iranian territory.