Saudi Pilot Downs 2 Iraqi Jets Over the Gulf : Aerial combat: Incident marks the first such enemy incursion. Planes were carrying Exocet anti-ship missiles.
DHAHRAN, Saudi Arabia — A Saudi pilot shot down two Iraqi F-1 Mirage jets over the Persian Gulf just south of the Kuwait border, Saudi officials said Thursday.
The incident marked the first time Iraqi planes have crossed into Saudi territory since the beginning of the war in the gulf and apparently signaled Iraq's intention to attack targets in the gulf or along the coast of Saudi Arabia, the officials said.
The two Iraqi jets, loaded with French-made Exocet anti-ship missiles and possibly bombs as well, were flying south along the Saudi coastline about 200 feet above the water when a Saudi F-15C swung in behind them and fired two AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles, downing both of them.
There were unconfirmed reports that a third Iraqi jet in the area turned back, possibly after firing or dumping an Exocet missile.
"I cannot tell you exactly which part of the gulf (they were headed for), but I am sure they were going to attack us, because their route was heading toward us," said the 30-year-old pilot who shot down the two aircraft, identified only as Capt. Ayedh. "You know, the whole coast is filled with oil fields, refineries, even the (air) base is located on the coast. But they were in my territory; that's what I care about."
An official from the Saudi F-15 squadron investigating the incident said it appeared that allied ships in the gulf were within range of the Iraqi jets' Exocets, the powerful, sea-skimming, anti-ship missiles that have a range of more than 40 miles.
But U.S. military officials in Riyadh said they could not confirm how close the Iraqi planes came to U.S. or other allied ships, and British officers who were tracking the jets on radar said no warships came within range of the missiles.
"He can be pretty far away and still be within range," said a U.S. Air Force spokesman. "It's a very formidable missile, as a lot of people found out in the gulf . . . and also in the Falklands . . . ."
It was believed to be an Iraqi-launched Exocet that struck the U.S. Navy guided missile frigate Stark in May, 1987, at the height of the Iran-Iraq War, killing 37 crew members. Iraq claimed the attack was accidental. The Stark had its radar system in a passive mode and was not ready with defensive systems designed to shoot down such missiles.
The British lost the frigate Sheffield in the 1982 Falklands conflict to an Exocet fired by Argentina.
On Thursday, officers aboard the British frigate London reported tracking three Iraqi Mirage fighters from southern Iraq to the gulf, according to combat pool reports from the ship.
Saudi officials said they did not know where the Iraqi flight originated. The Mirage F-1 has a range of about 400 miles and could easily have flown from an airfield near Basra in southern Iraq, military analysts said.
According to Capt. Ayedh and Saudi military commanders in Riyadh, Ayedh and three other Saudi F-15s were on a routine combat patrol shortly after noon Thursday when an airborne AWACS radar surveillance plane alerted them to targets approaching the Saudi border.
Ayedh said he was about 80 miles from the targets when he got the first call. The four F-15s turned east toward the coast and intercepted the Iraqi jets south of the Kuwaiti border within Saudi territorial waters, which extend out 12 miles.
Ayedh swung in about 3,000 feet behind the Iraqi planes and made a positive visual identification. The two Iraqi aircraft then broke to the sides, attempting to evade him. They appeared to dump some of their ordnance into the gulf, possibly to make their planes more maneuverable, he said.
"I am positive they knew I was there, some plane had intercepted them," Ayedh said. "They just started breaking in front of me, but it was too late."
Ayedh said he fired two Sidewinder missiles, first at one Mirage and then at the other, within about five seconds.
In a dramatic cockpit videotape of the mission, Ayedh is heard being directed to the location of the Iraqi jets by an air traffic controller aboard the AWACS plane.
"Roger, we presently have two bogies, 020, 90, southbound," the controller says, referring to the two Mirages. "Contact bogies. Should be two bogies, lead-trail."
Presently, Ayedh confirms he has sighted the two jets and a low growl is heard, indicating that he has engaged the seeker heads on his Sidewinder missiles. "Target bandit, bandit!" he declares, indicating he has locked onto one of the planes.
There is a long beep as the missile is fired, and then Ayedh shouts ecstatically: "First target destroyed! The first target destroyed!"
"Copy," the controller replies.
Seconds later, another beep is heard as the second Sidewinder missile is fired.
"Both targets destroyed!" Ayedh sings.
"820, say ID of bandit," the controller requests.
"Both targets destroyed! Both targets destroyed!" the pilot shouts impatiently.
"Copy, both splash," the controller radios back.
