A drone Iran claims to have captured from the United States “appears to have been fished out of the sea,” and “not ours” according to U.S. Navy and defense officials, casting doubt on Iran’s version of events. While it appears that the ScanEagle drone may have gone down in the Persian Gulf, military officials are confident it is not a U.S. drone.
Navy officials also note that the serial number on the drone is covered with black tape in the video released by Iran, preventing them from tracking it. If the serial number were visible, the U.S. military or the manufacturer, Boeing Co., could tell exactly where the drone originated.
The drone shown in the video is a ScanEagle model, but those are not unique to the United States. Boeing sells ScanEagles to at least nine different nations and private business such as oil companies operating in the Persian Gulf.
Defense officials describe the ScanEagles as being at the “low end of drone and surveillance technology,” which would provide the Iranians nothing new in technological or weapons development no matter whose drone it is. The surveillance apparatus consists only of a camera and transmitter. There is no video, data or intelligence stored on the drone itself.
All officials spoke to NBC News on condition of anonymity.
The Boeing ScanEagle is four feet long and has a 10-foot wingspan, according to the company's website. They are used for surveillance only.
The comments from U.S. officials came a day after Iran's semi-official Fars and the state-run URNA news agencies reported that a U.S. ScanEagle was gathering information over Gulf waters when it was captured by a naval unit of the Revolutionary Guards.
On Tuesday, a spokesman for U.S. Naval Forces Central Command in Bahrain denied Iran's report.
"The U.S. Navy has fully accounted for all unmanned air vehicles (UAV) operating in the Middle East region. Our operations in the Gulf are confined to internationally recognized water and air space," the spokesman said. "We have no record that we have lost any ScanEagles recently."
Last month, the U.S. said Iranian warplanes shot at a U.S. surveillance drone flying in international airspace. Iran said the aircraft had entered its airspace.

Jim Watson / AFP - Getty Images, file
A ScanEagle, an autonomous aircraft system, is seen in St. Inigoes, Md., in August 2009.


Iran lies all the time....why would anyone think any different here....hmmm.
...but then come to think of it, I suppose our boys do too. Everybody is a bunch of lying dirtbags. You can't take anything you hear from our military or any other at face value. In fact, I prefer our military to keep secrets. They save our lives!
Secrecy and disinformation are valuable and useful tools. Certainly, if the Iranians caught one of ours they would not let us know out right....unless they are just incredibly stupid..why let them know you captured something so they can figure out how to do it batter next time...they don't seem to be stupid but then they let that idiot out of his cage to speak and he sure makes them sound stupid.
Just a thought, they can't even shoot one of our stupid flying cameras down with two fighter jets.....beafraid people....lol.
BP owns the drone.
And of which nation is the government upholding of the truth? Ours?
I'm not defending Iran by any means, but I don't trust either side. I've seen first hand the bullsh!t our federal government will feed us.
That drone could be ours, might not be. Honestly, I don't know, but I do know that we've had a drone shot down over their airspace before. Why would I be gullible enough to believe they didn't shoot down another?
If it were ours, they would have loved to have shown the serial number to the media so they could learn of it's origins. The fact that they bothered to mask it off tells me it's not our militaries drone.
And considering we have lost them before...it would be old hat to say "yep, we lost another one". No biggie.
That's why I don't believe Irans statements at all.
The drone they got is not that sophisticated anyway. Even if it is ours...good for them, you have a remote controlled airplane that wont fly anymore....congrats!
The next drop off from a C-1 transporter, we should give them a Pontiac Aztec with wings on it and then they'll think they really have something! Goofs!
I never believe anything Iran says and only half of what we say.. months ago Iran showed a captured drone a pretty big one and our government denied it for weeks until someone finally admitted it was ours but outdated, which wasn't true..cause my friend who flies a drone told me after Iran captured the first one by jamming the flying remote signal and made it crash in Iran so they could reverse engineer it...
however there are still over half with outdated technologies fllying around that still can be hacked in the air and redirected where the hacker wants it to go....uh oh must have said to much a black helicopter circling over head ;)
They don't say things for our benefit. They do it for the people of Iran, and their allies.
They can't be stupid enough to think they can convince the American people of anything.
Lord, Lord, how subject we old men are to this vice of lying! ~William Shakespeare
Oh wow it's not a US Navy Boeing ScanEagle but admittedly it is a Boeing ScanEagle!
Hahaha what a "Joke"! So it could have been from the US Army, US Marines, US Air Force, US Coast Guard, the CIA, DIA, NSA, DEA, FBI, DHS, the Saudi, Qatar, UAE, Kuwaiti, Bahrain, or Israeli Drone.....But GEE it was NOT a US Navy Drone so that doesn't count!
Look Folks if you haven't figured it out by now "Our" side is violating Iranian Airspace and Sovereignty (and let US not forget Syria) at every opportunity trying to create a "False Flag" incident to justify and cover up 'Our" "Attacking" Iran!
Why? Because this has all been planned since the False Flag Attack on America on 09/11/2001
Don't believe....Watch this new PBS Documentary........http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1l-8PFk8j5I
Then watch General Wesley Clark play "Connect A Dot" with 9/11......http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RC1Mepk_Sw&feature=g-all-f
If you cannot understand the "Truth" of Wall Streets New Military Plutocracy Controlling America it is because you intentionally choose not to....Remember only you can say NO to more False Flag Operations!
It is time to stop the "War On America" (oops Terror).....Let US put an End to these UN Globalist "Not Wars" for Wall Streets and the Military Industrial Corporations Fun & Profits!
Impeach Obama in 2012 and Prosecute Hillary Clinton for the Criminal Conspiracy to Cover Up the Murder of a US Ambassador, their Secret CIA Prisons, and their Secret Aid to AL Qaeda in Benghazi-Gate & now in Syria!
Communism has never come to power in a country that was not disrupted by war or corruption, or both.~John F. Kennedy
Is that sarcasm or did you not hear about the RQ-170?
So far no one else says they lost a drone. If they would admit it.
If I were in charge of what the rest of you idiots become aware of, I would lie to you in order to protect you and yours. I guess that would make me a bad guy, but you'd have a better chance of living your life in peace. Sue me.
We can't get that low. That's evil.
The next drone sent out should have the appearance of being able to gather and store intelligence, but really should only contain a computer filled with hundreds of files, each one a powerful computer virus. When Iran tries to extract the data, their computers will inherit the virus files, which will be spread quickly as Iran tries to decipher the 'data'. Yes, I think it can be very easily done...just put some bleachers out in the sun and have it on highway 61.... -- Bob Dylan.
You know , thats a great idea! It would work too! The Iranian leadership is dumber than a box of hammers! Call the pentagon now! yozuri
The one they have probably has virii.
Sounds good enough to be in the next James Bond movie.
Duh, and Uh.
I LOVE that idea!!!
just land one in front of achmagiveablowjob and push "self destruct"
Another news flash from Iran that means nothing! Their ability to make a news story out of nothing rivals the Huffington post. They could'nt catch their ass, if their hands were tied behind their backs! When Syria falls you will scatter like frightened children. Your weapons are no match, compared to the firepower of your enemies.you haven't got a chance in hell for winning any kind of war with the West. so cut the crap and crawl back under your rock! youzuri
With any luck, if Iran builds a nuke & tries to fire a nuke missile at Israel, it'll crash back down and land on Iran instead and detonate.
You do understand that Israel has a very sophisticated nuclear arsenal of their own? They would hit back as soon as the launch was confirmed. Of course that means mutual suicide. If Iran acquires a nuke they simply become another number in the MAD equation. These are purely defensive weapons.
Yes, at least 200 nuclear warheads.
If Iran acquires a nuclear weapon, you had better hope they don't believe their own religious rhetoric about the Madhi, etc.
I knew the Iranians were lying when they said they found our drone in the North Korean's Unicorn lair.
DURRRR!!!!!!!
Tell Iran Gollum want's his precious back
Trickssy americansesss...
If Iran wants Nuckies --- maybe we should give them some. Drop a load or two from a B-52. Get rid of some of our old ones.
Congratulations Iran, you now have a model airplane to play with. Hope you have a great holiday, try not to fly it too low, it might take your head off...on second thought.
"President Amadinijhad, do you mind standing on that mound over there..." one of the captive scientist suggests, "Now, let's see if we have this remote working..."
That Iranian news story was NOT for the US but for their own followers. Look how great we are people, we have shot down one of the Great Satans Drones. Follow us, kill the infedials...
DURRRR!!!
IRNA is the name of the news agency. It stands for "Islamic Republic News Agency."
haha too funny. knew the Iranians were lying when they said they found our drone in the North Korean's Unicorn lair.
Actually, Ahrmash*tidad said he jumped out of a plane with a parachute and wrestled it to the ground like Hercules. LOL
Actually, Ach-I-needs-a-job jumped out of the jet without a parachute and beat up the drone before wrestling it to the ground after it admitted to being a pawn from the evil one.
WOW they caught someones R/C model with a camera in it.
I have one of those.
Anyone in Iran interested in buying a new one?
Pay me a few hundred thousand, and I might even teach you to fly it.
We all have drones today. I fly mine through the drive through window grocery store with money and order attached. They call me and say the order is in place. At that time I fly my drone back home.
Come on people, live with the times. Drones for everyone.
These people just want attention and the United States gives them a little bit.
The government is full of drones...
......and other not so useful "tools"
Oil companies own drones now? Who knew?
Damn it now !! I want one of those .....Can you get them at Best Buy or Radio Shack ?
It's probably on EBay by now.
You can buy a camera equipped drone from Amazon, Costco, and numerous other sources for under $300, and control it with a smart phone.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003ZVSEN6/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1/178-1579245-5276503?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_r=1DDKP4QC1V24C69EVXHM&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_i=B003ZVSHB0
Realy, I can get one On E-Bay !!!! .... do they offer free shipping?
Yes, you too can own a drone http://ardrone2.parrot.com/ - a friend has one of these.
WOOT!
Who cares?
The last time the Obama administration denied the Iranians had a U.S. drone they asked Iran to return it a week later.
So the Navy denies it is theirs. Have we heard from the CIA, Air Force, Army, Marines, EPA, or even the Alameda County Sheriff's Department? It actually sounds like a simple throw away Drone so who cares. Let's just remember that we do not have a Pilot in the hands of the Iranian's.
Hey...with all the talk about budget cuts...let's tell them it's ours and get a drone for free (I mean, assuming it really isn't one of ours). Couldn't hurt !
Why is the Navy wasting time debunking Iran? Don't they have more important things to do? Are they that insecure?
Insecure is not a word I would use to describe the USA Navy... lol
Amazing how the entire u.s. defense industry is rushing to de-bunk this. The more they try he more I know it was true. Iran seems to be advancing so good for them.
This is a not very glorified model airplane. Iran just looks stupid for trying to make this a big deal. You can buy something that looks pretty similar on robotshop.com
So, like....Iran got themselves a wet, remote-controlled airplane that doesn't work anymore with a video camera and transmitter.
B....F...D
Those dumb Iranians are desperate to discredit my country but are not successful, as usual. What a bunch of sand worms.