Iraqi soldier with captured UAV. (AFP)
News that a "spy plane" was discovered by Iraqi troops in the southern city of Basrah, where Iran is attempting to exert its influence with the various Shia militias, is certain to stir up a controversy. Earlier today, the Iraqi newspaper Voices of Iraq reported "a spy plane, heavy weapons and documentaries" were found in the southern city of Basrah. AFP ran a photo captioned "An Iraqi policeman holds a small drone during a press conference in Basra," in the Arab daily Asharq Al-Awsat.
So the question is whose "spy plane" is this? Is it an Iranian miniature Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (not a "drone" or a "spy plane") of the type used in Lebanon and flown into Israel? Perhaps this is an old, leftover UAV from the Saddam Area?
Looking at the photo provided by AFP, the answer looks to be much simpler. The UAV held by the Iraqi photo appears to be a direct match of the US made RQ-11B, or Raven B, a hand-launched, remote-controlled UAV with a range of six miles. In both images, the top wing of the Raven is detached.
Shia insurgents likely found a lost Raven, put it in their stockpiles, and forgot about it until the Iraqi troops uncovered the cache. The real question is how did this Raven not make it across the border into Iran for inspection?
