Israeli forces shoot down suspicious flying object near nuclear reactor

2010-12-17 11:34:17 GMT+7 (ICT)

ISRAEL (BNO NEWS) -- Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) on Thursday shot down a suspicious unmanned object which was flying over the Dimona nuclear reactor in southern Israel, the Jerusalem Post reported.

The IDF informed that the unmanned object had an engine and was flying in closed airspace. The large balloon was downed as Israel feared it could be an attack on the Dimona nuclear reactor of which its airspace is restricted and well protected by the Israeli Air Force (IAF).

The suspicious object was detected over the Dead Sea by IAF radar stations on Thursday afternoon. Scrambled fighter jets were sent to the area to identify and intercept the unmanned object. After determining that it was a balloon, IAF commander Ido Nehushtan ordered to shoot it down.

Nehushtan decided to fire at the object as there were serious concerns that it might have been sent over the reactor to gather intelligence on the activities performed there or that the balloon may be carrying explosives.

For several hours, IAF was not sure if the incident was a real threat or not. The investigation later revealed, however, that the object may have simply been a weather balloon.

The Dimona nuclear reactor, which is being protected by both the IAF as well as surface-to-air missile systems, has reportedly manufactured approximately 200 nuclear weapons.

In October, IAF intercepted an ultra-light aircraft that accidentally flew into the restricted area. The Israeli aircraft was escorted by fighter jets to a nearby landing strip.

During the 1967 Middle East war, an Israeli surface-to-air missile shot down a crippled Israeli fighter-bomber that strayed into the restricted zone, killing its pilot in the process.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2010-12-17

Why is it that when a large spherical rubber balloon is filled with Helium and launched into the sky with an aluminum radar reflector dangling under it. It suddenly becomes a flying saucer UFO or now a possble bomb threat to a nuclear reactor ?

I suggest the manufactures of weather balloons put in big bold print 'THIS IS A WEATHER BALLOON TOTALLY AT THE MERCY OF WIND AND AIR PRESSURE PLEASE DO NOT CONFUSE IT WITH ANYTHING ELSE YOUR MAD IMAGINATION MIGHT / MIGHT NOT COME UP WITH"

I also suggest that all potential aviators during early days of training be shown photographs of said weather balloons so that there is no confusion at a later date.....

yours the ultimate cynic....

Edited December 17, 201015 yr by lonewolf99

It said suspicious object, not a flying saucer.

Why is it that when a large spherical rubber balloon is filled with Helium and launched into the sky with an aluminum radar reflector dangling under it. It suddenly becomes a flying saucer UFO or now a possble bomb threat to a nuclear reactor ?

I suggest the manufactures of weather balloons put in big bold print 'THIS IS A WEATHER BALLOON TOTALLY AT THE MERCY OF WIND AND AIR PRESSURE PLEASE DO NOT CONFUSE IT WITH ANYTHING ELSE YOUR MAD IMAGINATION MIGHT / MIGHT NOT COME UP WITH"

I also suggest that all potential aviators during early days of training be shown photographs of said weather balloons so that there is no confusion at a later date.....

yours the ultimate cynic....

Those words you quote would be an ideal cover for a bomb eh.