Russian jet damages US drone with flares in latest encounter over Syria: ‘Dangerously close’

A Russian fighter jet damaged an American MQ-9 Reaper drone early Sunday in the latest dangerous air encounter with the US military over Syria, the Air Force said Tuesday.

The Russian aircraft flew “dangerously close” to the US drone at approximately 12:23 a.m. local time, “harassing the MQ-9 and deploying flares from a position directly overhead, with only a few meters of separation between aircraft,” US Air Forces Central commander Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich said in a statement.

Dramatic video shows the Russian aircraft approaching the Reaper drone, coming so close that the American craft’s camera captured images of the pilot in the cockpit.

Soon after, the footage cuts to the Russian jet flying over the top of the American drone and deploying four flares — at least one of which struck the Reaper, “severely damaging its propeller,” AFCENT said.

Images released alongside the video show a large, black burn mark near the tip of the propeller, which was bent and mangled by the heat and force of the flare.

#russia #drone #syria #airforce

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[PATRICKJLM]

You forgot to mention that Syria is a sovereign country, Russia it is its ally and has every right to be there.
USA is illegally in Syria.

[JimPlebeian]

Some perspective..
Syria are allied with Russia
US are violating Syrian airspace.
The only aircraft legal is the Russian

[PirackieCzogi]

Its almost on fake news level. Who is legal and who is not there?

[napgimenez]

Russia is in Syria legally through military cooperation with the government of Syria and the United States is in Syria illegally protecting a terrorist organization fighting turkey, a member of NATO.
Therefore, Russia is obliged by international law and standards to protect Syria airspace from imminent threat including the United States hostile attitude against the legitimate government of Bashir Assad.

[sf]

Their getting whipped by a lesser power, Ukraine with a little help is wiping them out..

[knuckleheadunstoppable]

It's appropriate. Why do people think Russia should be ok with us butting in?!

[benjaminrobledo]

The F-22 30 miles behind them was probably iching to fire...

[TheSithTeacher]

I'm just a dumb guy but what are the US drones doing OVER Syria?

[longsleevethong]

It’s took them more than 20 tries to actually hit the drone.

[victorvictor]

What are the US military doing in Syria? 3

[fritzvolz]

This would have never happened, if Trump were still president.

[DzhokharDudayev-krmi]

Dear Americans, this is already a second incident where Ruzzian jet destroys one of your valuable military drones. Maybe you consider to do something in return? Or just sit and watch how ruzzia humiliates you?