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 @DeptofDefense @usairforce @CJTFOIR pic.twitter.com/ViVTI3P05i
— US AFCENT (@USAFCENT) July 25, 2023
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.
