Easy as 1, 2, 3
US accuses Russia of ‘harassing’ drones in Syria, releases video
US air force says drones forced to take evasive action after Russian pilots engaged afterburner and deployed parachute flares.
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US Air Forces Central released a video of Wednesday’s encounter, showing a Russian SU-35 fighter closing in on the drone.
- Footage showed the Russian pilot positioning his aircraft in front of the Reaper and turning on the afterburner, dramatically increasing speed and air pressure and making it harder to operate the drone, the air force said in comments accompanying the video.
- So-called parachute flares were also released.
- Lieutenant General Alexus Grynkewich, the commander of the Ninth Air Force in the Middle East, said in a statement.
“Russian military aircraft engaged in unsafe and unprofessional behaviour while interacting with US aircraft in Syria,” he said, adding that the actions threatened the safety not only of US forces but also Russian forces.
- Army General Erik Kurilla, head of US Central Command, added that Russia’s violation of ongoing efforts to clear the airspace over Syria “increases the risk of escalation or miscalculation”.
US Releases Footage Of Russian Su-35 Fighters' Aggressive Encounter With MQ-9 Reaper Drones In Syria
KEY POINTS
- The US accused Russian Su-35 fighters of attacking MQ-9 Reaper drones in Syria
- A compelling footage showcasing the aggressive encounter was released
- Concerns rise over safety as Russian jets engaged in dangerous maneuvers near US drones
The US has leveled accusations against Russia, claiming that it has been engaging in perilous maneuvers in close proximity to U.S. military drones operating over Syria. These actions have raised concerns that Moscow may intentionally seek to "shoot down" another MQ-9 Reaper drone.
On July 5, the US Air Force released video evidence showing three Russian Su-35 fighter jets involved in dangerous maneuvers near multiple US drones operating within Syrian airspace.
In an official statement, Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich expressed concern over the actions of the Russian jets, describing their behavior as "unsafe and unprofessional." The incident occurred around 10:40 a.m. on July 5, when the Russian jets encountered three US MQ-9 drones in Syrian airspace.
- According to Grynkewich, the Russian pilots engaged in repeated acts of harassment toward the drones during the entire duration of the encounter.
- Their actions were characterized as deliberate and persistent.
Grynkewich emphasized that the Russian jets violated established norms and protocols by deploying a significant number of parachute flares directly in the path of the US drones. This deliberate action forced the US aircraft to perform evasive maneuvers in order to avoid the flares and maintain their safety.
- Grynkewich also highlighted that one of the Russian pilots intentionally positioned his Su-35 fighter aircraft in front of an MQ-9 drone and engaged the afterburner, thereby jeopardizing the operator's ability to maintain safe control over the drone.
The Air Force has released an unclassified video that provides glimpses of the encounter between the Russian jets and the MQ-9 drones.
- In one frame, a Su-35 fighter jet can be seen approaching one of the MQ-9 drones in close proximity.
- Another segment of the video captures the deployment of parachute flares within the flight path of the drones.
The caption accompanying the video describes the engagement as a "new level" of inappropriate behavior demonstrated by Russia's air force in Syria.
"These events represent another example of unprofessional and unsafe actions by Russian air forces operating in Syria, which threaten the safety of both US and Russian forces," Grynkewich said.
He added, "We urge Russian forces in Syria to cease this reckless behavior and adhere to the standards of behavior expected of a professional air force so we can resume our focus on the enduring defeat of ISIS."
The Air Force did not disclose specific details about the mission undertaken by the MQ-9 drones in Syria against ISIS targets.
The timely release of the recent video showcasing the encounter between the Russian fighter jets and MQ-9 drones bears resemblance to a previous incident that occurred in March, Eurasian Times reported.
During the earlier incident, a video was declassified and made available to the public. This video aimed to illustrate the harassment of an MQ-9 drone by a Russian Su-27 pilot. The incident took place in international airspace above the Black Sea, further emphasizing the need to highlight such encounters involving Russian military aircraft."
Watch: Russian Su-35 Jets Release Flares Near U.S. Drones Over Syria, Washington Claims ‘Harassment’
US releases footage of Russian fighter jets ‘harassing’ US drones over Syria
US defence official accuses Russian military of ‘reckless behaviour’ by flying dangerously close and releasing flares during US mission against Islamic State
The US Air Force has released video footage it says shows Russian fighter jets flying dangerously close to several US drones over Syria on Wednesday, setting off flares and forcing the MQ-9 Reapers to take evasive manoeuvres.
US Air Forces Central said in a statement describing the scenes: “These events represent a new level of unprofessional and unsafe action by Russian air forces operating in Syria.”
The footage comprises a series of clips showing a Russian SU-35 fighter closing in on a Reaper, and later a series of parachute flares drifting into a drone’s flight path.
Lt Gen Alex Grynkewich, commander of 9th Air Force in the Middle East, said in a statement that one of the Russian pilots moved their aircraft in front of a drone and engaged the SU-35’s afterburner, which he said reduced the drone operator’s ability to safely operate the aircraft. The afterburner creates a jet blast that can potentially damage the Reaper’s electronics...
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