ADVANCED MISSILES USED AGAINST U.S. AIRCRAFT

S E C R E T BAGHDAD 003199 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/22/2017 TAGS: MARR MOPS MCAP PGOV PTER PINS PNAT IZ SUBJECT: ADVANCED MISSILES USED AGAINST U.S. AIRCRAFT Classified By: Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (S) According to DIA and the U.S. Army Aircraft Shoot Down Assessment Team, insurgents recently targeted U.S. military helicopters in Iraq with advanced missiles that have some capability to defeat current U.S. countermeasures. The missiles are likely of Iranian origin. While military intelligence analysts report that this missile presents an increased danger to U.S. helicopters operating in Iraq, they assess it is probably not widely distributed in the country. ¶2. (S) This analysis is based on two known attacks in Iraq. On July 31, a missile hit an AH-64D Apache helicopter, forcing an emergency landing. On September 8, a UH-60 Black Hawk received a missile-warning alert and performed evasive maneuvers; the missile passed the aircraft and detonated. Technical analysis suggests the missile missed because of a motor malfunction. Forensic analysis of the recovered debris from both missiles links them to the Iranian-produced MISAGH-1 man-portable air defense system, which Army analysts say is a copy of the Chinese QW-1 VANGUARD that was modeled after the U.S. STINGER BASIC. ¶3. (S) This report was compiled from MNF-I intelligence briefings provided to post on September 19. CROCKER