An MQ-9 Reaper lands on Highway 287 during Exercise Agile Chariot, April 30, 2023, honing capabilities linked to Agile Combat Employment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Carly Kavish)
WASHINGTON — A Russian fighter jet launched flares at a US MQ-9 Reaper drone flying above Syria and “severely” damaged its propeller recently, US Air Forces Central (AFCENT) Commander Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich alleged today.
“On 23 July, 2023 at 12:23 a.m. (EST) Russian fighter aircraft flew dangerously close to a U.S. MQ-9 drone on a defeat-ISIS mission, harassing the MQ-9 and deploying flares from a position directly overhead, with only a few meters of separation between aircraft. One of the Russian flares struck the U.S. MQ-9, severely damaging its propeller,” Grynkewich said in a press release.
The crew piloting the drone was able to safely land it, Grynkewich said, whose release was accompanied by video footage of the encounter. “We call upon the Russian forces in Syria to put an immediate end to this reckless, unprovoked, and unprofessional behavior,” he added.
A Russian official, speaking to the Russian news agency TASS on July 23, accused a US-led coalition drone of “dangerously approach[ing]” Russian jets that subsequently deployed flares. But AFCENT’s video of the incident Grynkewich described appears to show the Russian jet approaching the drone from behind and overflying it, contrary to the Russian official’s claim.
The incident marks yet another run-in between US and Russian forces, where Russian pilots have been increasingly harassing US aircraft since March. That month, a US Reaper crashed into the Black Sea after Russian pilots dumped fuel on it and struck its propeller, presaging a slew of similar incidents.
Within a week at the beginning of this month, Russian pilots separately harassed Reapers mid-flight three times and intercepted another drone flight after that prior to the incident over this past weekend. Last week, Grynkewich disclosed a manned US MC-12 reconnaissance aircraft was forced to fly in the wake turbulence of a Russian fighter jet on July 16, which he claimed threatened the lives of the aircraft’s crew.
A senior US defense official previously said that the actions by Russian pilots are representative of a “triumvirate” between the Iranian, Syrian and Russian governments to pressure the US to leave Syria, who warned that the Russians may be gradually escalating their campaign. US forces are still in Syria fighting the remnants of the Islamic State (ISIS).
That official said a deconfliction line to coordinate and deescalate activities between the US and Russian militaries is still actively used, though the dialogue is not always fruitful.
US presence in the Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility has separately ramped up recently in large part to deter attempted seizures of oil tankers by Iran, leading the US to deploy fresh forces to the region. In addition to those forces, CENTCOM announced July 20 that an Amphibious Readiness Group/Marine Expeditionary Unit will also be deployed to further bolster deterrence.