US Triples Estimates Of Missing SAMs | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

 Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-07.14.25

Airborne-NextGen-07.15.25

AirborneUnlimited-07.16.25

Airborne-FlightTraining-07.17.25

AirborneUnlimited-07.11.25

Mon, Nov 08, 2004

US Triples Estimates Of Missing SAMs

At Least 4,000 Missing Worldwide

American intelligence experts have tripled the number of shoulder-fired SAM missiles missing worldwide. At least 4,000 MANPADS (Man-Portable Air Defense Systems) owned by Saddam Hussein's military before the US-led invasion last year are unaccounted for. That makes it 6,000 MANPADS out there on the loose somewhere, according to intelligence agencies -- up from the 2,000 they previously estimated missing.

If there's any cause for relief, it's that those same intelligence agencies think the missing MANPADS systems are still in Iraq. One intelligence officer told The Day newspaper in New London (CT) that "there is no evidence that they have left the country."

How serious is the missing MANPADS situation? "No threat is more serious to aviation," said Secretary of State Colin Powell last fall. The State Department figures more than 40 aircraft have been hit by MANPAD missiles over the past 30 years or so, resulting in the downing of 24 aircraft and at least 600 deaths.

FMI: www.globalsecurity.org/military/intro/manpads.htm

Advertisement

More News

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (07.15.25): Charted Visual Flight Procedure Approach

Charted Visual Flight Procedure Approach An approach conducted while operating on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan which authorizes the pilot of an aircraft to proceed >[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (07.15.25)

“When l became the Secretary of Defense, I committed to rebuild our military to match threats to capabilities. Drones are the biggest battlefield innovation in a generation, >[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (07.15.25)

Aero Linx: Stearman Restorers Association Welcome to the Stearman Restorers Association. The Stearman Restorers Association is an independent “Not for Profit” 501C-3 Co>[...]

NTSB Final Report: Kjelsrud Gary Kitfox

Airplane Exhibited A Partial Loss Of Engine Power When It Was About Halfway Down The Runway Analysis: The pilot of the experimental amateur-built airplane was departing from his pr>[...]

NTSB Prelim: Cessna A150L

The Flight Path Was Consistent With Low-Altitude Maneuvering On June 18, 2025, about 0922 mountain standard time, a Cessna A150L airplane, N6436F, was substantially damaged when it>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Change Display

Headlines Only | Headlines w/ Teasers | View Everything

Advertisement

Top Videos

Airborne 07.18.25: Will MOSAIC Be Announced Tuesday???, 12 Hot News Items

Airborne-Flight Training 07.17.25: Dual Ignition C172, CFI-ATP Course, FAA Boss

Airborne 07.16.25: Guilty Droner, C-17 Comeback?, Hartzell Grows Again

See All

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC