Russian Su-35S Deploys Flares That Damage Propeller Of U.S. MQ-9 Drone Over Syria

Despite the damage, the unmanned aircraft was able to return to its home base.

A U.S. MQ-9 drone and a Russian Su-35S fighter were involved in yet another dangerous close encounter over Syria lately. According to the details released by the U.S. military, on July 23, 2023, at 12.23 AM (EST) an unspecified number of Su-35S aircraft flew dangerously close to a U.S. MQ-9 drone over Syria. As happened earlier this month, the Russian Flankers “harassed” the MQ-9 and deployed flares from a position directly overhead the Reaper with only a few meters of separation between aircraft.

However, this time, one of the Russian flares struck the U.S. MQ-9, severely damaging its propeller. Fortunately, the MQ-9 crew was able to maintain flight and safely recover the aircraft to its home 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

Indeed, the images released by the U.S. Air Forces Central Command through the DVIDS network show one of the drone propellers burnt and partly bent.

Flares are high-temperature heat sources used to mislead surface-to-air or air-to-air missile’s heat-seeking targeting systems, creating the pyrotechnic visual effect similar to a fireworks display. Such countermeasures are used against MANPADS (Man Portable Air Defense Systems) and after years of close intercepts in that area and elsewhere, however the actions during the latest incidents seem to be getting more and more aggressive.

On Mar. 14, 2023, a Russian Su-27 Flanker fighter jet and a US MQ-9 Reaper Remotely Piloted Aircraft were involved in an inflight collision over the Black Sea. U.S. forces had to bring the MQ-9 down in international waters. A video shot by the Reaper’s onboard sensor showed the Su-27 dumping fuel on and flying in front of the MQ-9 until the Flanker hit the unmanned aircraft.

About David Cenciotti

David Cenciotti is a journalist based in Rome, Italy. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviationist”, one of the world’s most famous and read military aviation blogs. Since 1996, he has written for major worldwide magazines, including Air Forces Monthly, Combat Aircraft, and many others, covering aviation, defense, war, industry, intelligence, crime and cyberwar. He has reported from the U.S., Europe, Australia and Syria, and flown several combat planes with different air forces. He is a former 2nd Lt. of the Italian Air Force, a private pilot and a graduate in Computer Engineering. He has written five books and contributed to many more ones.