Fox is reporting that this might have been an SA-20 missile, and that analysis of air traffic control tapes is underway to determine where the shot came from.
What is important to understand here, is no matter what, you cannot simply point an SA-11 or SA 20 SAM at a target, light the fuse like Wile E. Coyote, and just walk away while it launches. These were guided missiles that are very sophisticated, guided by radar and telemetry to a target that has to be deliberately selected and designated as hostile before the missile will lock. You cannot do anything with just a launch vehicle either, there is a separate command and control vehicle that is required to launch anything.
The point is, this was not just some rebel who got his hands on a single rocket or launcher vehicle. This missile was launched with the efforts of more than one person, in multiple vehicles, and was guided to its target deliberately and directly by them.
The picture I posted earlier shows three different vehicles that make up a troop. I'm sure they can have multiple launcher vehicles if needed. Think about the Israeli Iron Dome system. It has multiple launchers on each site with a control vehicle for them all.
Speaking of Iron Dome....does anyone have a feeling for the time it takes the IDF to combat reload an Iron Dome battery?? Those kids must be drilled to a razor's edge, and the terrorist rockets have been fired in volleys deliberately trying to overwhelm ID....
