The Ambassador of Death

[Darky]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38804551/ns/world_news-mideastn_africa/?gt1=43001

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Sunday inaugurated the country's first domestically built long-range unmanned bomber aircraft, calling it an "ambassador of death" to Iran's enemies. Speaking to a group of officials, Ahmadinejad said, "The jet, as well as being an ambassador of death for the enemies of humanity, has a main message of peace and friendship."
The goal of the aircraft is to "keep the enemy paralyzed in its bases," he said, adding that the jet is for deterrence and defensive purposes.

"If there is an ignorant person or an egoist or a tyrant who just wanted to make an aggression, then our Defense Ministry should reach a point where it could cut off the hand of the aggressor before it decided to make an aggression," he said.
"We should reach a point when Iran would serve as a defense umbrella for all freedom-loving nations in the face of world aggressors. We don't want to attack anywhere — Iran will never decide to attack anywhere — but our revolution cannot sit idle in the face of tyranny. We can't remain indifferent."

The ceremony came a day after Iran began to fuel its first nuclear power reactor , with the help of Russia, amid international concerns over the possibility of a military dimension to its nuclear program. Iran insists it is interested only in generating electricity.
Referring to Israel's occasional threats against Iran's nuclear facilities, Ahmadinejad called any attack unlikely, but he said if Israel did attack, the reaction would be overwhelming.
"The scope of Iran's reaction will include the entire earth," said Ahmadinejad. "We also tell you — the West — that all options are on the table."

I'm not sure, but I don't think something referred to as the Ambassador of Death or even it's official name of Striker can be a message of peace and friendship. Nor do I think most people, even living in your country would agree that you are a shining light of freedom...

 

[IslanderOffRoad]

We should send them an ambassador of STFU. I think last time we called them Fat Man and Little Boy...

 

[joe_peters]

Maybe the Community Organizer in Chief will invite them for a beer summit.

 

[mcantar18c]

Info I heard from military... thing has a range of 620 miles @ 560mph and can carry a payload of 4 cruise missiles, or two 250lb bombs, or one 450lb guided bomb.
The Ambassador of Death isn't a threat... it's a warning.
This drone isn't really something to worry about; it goes along with NK's nuke test... they're just publicly showing this as a "hey, look what we can do" kind of thing. What we SHOULD worry about, is what they're not telling the rest of the world. Its foolish of any government of military power to show their enemies their most advanced weaponry or tactics. 620 miles isn't very far by any means, not nearly enough to be a major threat in itself... but its big brother they haven't unveiled yet surely is. The fact that they have technology like this is the big thing here.

 

[WB9YZU]

Technology, shmology.

Any kid and his daddy could have bought that from the Hobby store as a ReadyToFly kit.

 

[Darky]

A 620 mile range plus 4 cruise missiles fired off at the end of it's range is probably enough to hit Israel. May not be able to hit America, but we still have troops over there, allies over there, interests over there. He can hit any of them with this, and that is still a threat.

 

[tbburg]

...,and can carry a payload of 4 cruise missiles, or two 250lb bombs, or one 450lb guided bomb.

Something not adding up here.

All the cruise missiles I've seen/know about weighs more the 450 lb. This thing can carry 1 - 450 lb bomb(centerline) or 2 - 250lb bombs(presumably on inboard wing stations) that's 3 hard points. It would have to have 2 more wing stations, or an internal bomb bay big enough for multiple munitions. Either it has a payload of about 500lb, or it's wing stations are limited to 250lb/side, ruling out multiple hard points.
Any way around, either the specs are wrong, or those "cruise missiles" weigh about 200lb each, which would make,... what?... A 40lb warhead?


A drone with a 450lb bomb IS a cruise missile with a 450lb warhead.

 

[mcantar18c]

I'm guessing it has something to do with the dimensions of the cruise missiles vs bombs. You bring up a good point.

 

[POSJ]

That thing wouldn't make it out of Iranian air space...we are watching them as well as Iraq and Suadi are watching them...It would have to cross their air space to reach Israel.

 

[joe_peters]

The cowardice of nations brought us WWII. We now have our own Neville Chamberlain in the WH.

 

[Darky]

That thing wouldn't make it out of Iranian air space...we are watching them as well as Iraq and Suadi are watching them...It would have to cross their air space to reach Israel.

Somehow, I'm not sure that Iraq and Saudi Arabia are the best defense for keeping Iran from launching a missile at Israel.