Russian fighter jet damages US drone over Syria
US military officials say they don't quite know why Russian aircraft keep harassing US drones over Syria, but they're continuing to explore options to protect them.
A Russian fighter jet dropped flares within a few meters of a US MQ-9 Reaper drone over Syria on Saturday, damaging the drone’s propeller in the latest tense encounter between the two nations’ aircraft.
The US Air Force released video today of a Russian Su-35 approaching the drone, which the military said was damaged during the encounter.
On July 23 Russian military aircraft deployed flares, damaging a U.S. MQ-9 while conducting a defeat-ISIS mission. For the full statement by Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich, Commander, 9th AF (AFCENT) visithttps://t.co/5cQm8MQ6aQ@CENTCOM
— U.S. Air Forces Central (@USAFCENT) July 25, 2023
@DeptofDefense @usairforce @CJTFOIR pic.twitter.com/ViVTI3P05i
The run-in is the latest in a series of incidents of Russian fighter pilots interfering with US drones. Earlier this month Russian Su-35 and Su-34 pilots flew in close and dropped flares around US MQ-9s that were preparing a strike against a senior Islamic State figure.
In March, a Russian pilot slammed his Su-27 into a US MQ-9 off Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula over the Black Sea, forcing the unmanned drone to crash.
