A US MQ-9 Reaper drone was damaged by a Russian Su-35 fourth-generation fighter jet
Today we wrote that a Russian fighter jet attacked an American MQ-9 Reaper drone in the skies over Syria. As it turned out, it was a fourth-generation Su-35 aircraft.
Here's What We Know
The incident happened over the weekend, but we're only just now learning about it. Despite the propeller damage, operators were able to maintain control on the MQ-9 Reaper and bring the flightless aircraft back to base.
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 US Air Force press release did not mention the model of the Russian fighter jet that attacked the drone. However, Air & Space Forces Magazine reports about the Su-35. This information was reported to journalists by a US official.
This is the second case in 2023 when a Russian aircraft caused damage to a US drone. A few months ago, a Su-27 over the Black Sea hit an MQ-9 Reaper with its wing, causing the operators to have to drown the drone.
Source: Air & Space Forces Magazine
