Three Russian Su-35 fighters attempt to shoot down three US MQ-9 Reaper drones

Russian aircraft in Syria continue to perform dangerous manoeuvres. The US Air Force reported that a trio of US MQ-9 Reaper drones were recently compromised.

Here's What We Know

The incident took place around noon on June 5. The three US drones were carrying out their mission when three Russian Su-35 fighter jets began hunting for them.

The planes dropped several parachute bombs in front of the US drones. A US Air Force statement said the MQ-9s were able to evade the ordnance. One of the pilots then turned on afterburner to damage the drone with a heat signature.

Note that this is not the first time Russian aircraft have posed a threat to US drones. Earlier this year, the US Air Force decided to sink the MQ-9 Reaper in the Black Sea after a collision with a Su-27 fighter jet.

The US military had already complained about the behaviour of Russian pilots in Syria. Because of this, in the middle of last month, the US Air Force redeployed fifth-generation F-22 Raptor fighters to the Middle East, which were based at Langley Base, Virginia.

Source: AFC Central