The one and only shot the US had against Osama bin Laden was all down to a new surveillance aircraft the CIA was still testing and evaluating at the time. Commanders decided putting the small unmanned drone, what was then called a UAV, through a little 'real world' experience might be interesting. The shot was not taken due to a mix of domestic political and diplomatic reasons. Indeed one problem was that the closest 'shooter' or USAF fighter would have had to violate allied airspace unannounced - a tough ask during an unstable nuclear stand-off between Pakistan and India.