WASHINGTON - The U.S. government is disputing Iran's claims that it has captured an American spy drone in its airspace over the Persian Gulf.
This is the second alleged U.S. spy drone Iranian officials say they have captured.
A year ago, the Iranian government released video showing a more sophisticated RQ-170 Sentinel that Iranians said they brought down over the eastern part of the country. This time, they say, they have the ScanEagle, a smaller drone that weighs less than 20 kilograms, has a wingspan of only three meters and usually is outfitted with a camera.
Caitlin Lee is a military aviation correspondent for the IHS Jane's Information Group. She says several countries possess the ScanEagle, so it is possible that it might not be U.S.-operated. However, Lee does not believe possessing it has much technological value for Tehran.