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1. Russia’s ‘Laughable’ Drone Accusation
2. National News
3. News
4. Home
U.S. MOCKS RUSSIA FOR CLAIMING DRONE THREATENED FIGHTER JET OVER SYRIA
The U.S. military headquarters for air operations in Syria expressed incredulity
at Russian claims that one of its most sophisticated fighter jets was harassed
by a smaller, slower drone.
By Paul D. Shinkman
|
Aug. 9, 2023
|
By Paul D. Shinkman
|
Aug. 9, 2023, at 5:43 p.m.
|
Save
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Russia’s ‘Laughable’ Drone Accusation
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In this video still released by the U.S. Air Force, a Russian fighter jet flies
close to a U.S. drone over Syria, July 23, 2023.(U.S. Air Force via AP)
Who knew Russian fighter pilots were so … flappable?
Related:
Russia Denies Drone Attack Caused Explosion at Moscow Industrial Plant
The U.S. military on Wednesday expressed incredulity at Russian claims that one
of its most sophisticated fighter jets operating over Syria felt threatened by
what the Kremlin described as “a dangerous approach” from a smaller, slower,
propeller-powered and far less capable U.S. drone.
A spokesman for Russia’s headquarters for operations in Syria claimed on Tuesday
that the unmanned MQ-9 Reaper drone approached the Russian Su-34 fighter jet
within 100 meters and blasted the U.S. for not disclosing the drone’s flight
path in advance, per strict terms the countries have set for operations in the
war zone. Rear Adm. Vadim Kulit said the Russian pilots “demonstrated high
professionalism” to avoid crashing into the offending drone.
Air Force Col. Mike Andrews, a spokesman for the U.S. headquarters overseeing
air operations in the Middle East, dismissed the claims as “laughable.”
“If a MQ-9 can sneak up on a Russian fighter, then they probably need another
pilot,” Andrews tells U.S. News. “According to open sources, the Su-34 can fly
at Mach 1.8, roughly 1,375 miles per hour. The top speed of the turbo-prop MQ-9
is 280 mph.”
Andrews says there has never been an incident of a U.S. aircraft approaching a
Russian aircraft and engaging in “escalatory, dangerous or unsafe behavior.”
Rather, he cited the several instances in which Russian jets have harassed U.S.
aircraft and drones, such as one particularly dramatic incident at the end of
July in which a Russian fighter fired flares at an MQ-9 over Syria, striking it
and causing extensive damage.
CARTOONS ON UKRAINE AND RUSSIA
View All 101 Images
In March, a Russian fighter jet collided with a U.S. drone over the Black Sea,
causing the drone to crash in a high-profile incident that at the time was seen
as raising tensions between the two countries to new levels.
“Violations include flying dangerously close passes across the nose of manned
and unmanned aircraft, engaging afterburner causing manned aircraft to fly
through its turbulence wake, or intentionally deploying flares at
close-proximity to damage U.S. aircraft, all behaviors which have been
documented by released video and photos,” Andrews says.
Since Russia ramped up operations in Syria to support its proxy in the regime of
Bashar Assad – and particularly since the U.S. unilaterally withdrew much of its
capabilities there during the Trump administration – both countries have
attempted to coordinate their operations even as tensions remain high.
The Pentagon maintains a “Russia deconfliction cell” solely dedicated to
ensuring communications with Russia to minimize unsafe aerial incidents or the
perception that it poses a threat to Russian military operations in and around
Syria.
Andrews says his headquarters “is committed to maintaining open dialogue with
Russia to preserve life, safety, and freedom of maneuver,” adding that all
aircraft contributing to operations against the Islamic State group there
“operate with active transponders to ensure international visibility and
tracking across radar systems.”
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Tags: Russia, drones, Syria
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