positions in Syria also came under deadly attack from Iranian-backed militias the same month. positions over the winter, Russian warplanes resumed regularly overflying U.S. official previously told Air & Space Forces Magazine might be an attempt to “engender an international incident.” After a pause in Russian air activity near U.S. military officials have raised alarm over Russian behavior in Syria in recent months, which one U.S. Such incidents increase the risk of accidents. Separately, Chinese fighters harassed a U.S.

declassified drone footage at that time as well. In March, a Russian Su-27 collided with an American MQ-9 over the Black Sea while two Su-27s were trying to harass the American drone. The Pentagon also released video of the second incident. The Russian fighters “flew dangerously close, endangering the safety of all aircraft involved,” Grynkewich said in a July 6 statement. The next morning, a Su-34 and a Su-35 dropped flares in front of an MQ-9s while another MQ-9 recorded the incident. Department of Defense swiftly declassified and released a compilation video late July 5. On-board cameras captured the encounter in detail. The Reapers can carry weapons in addition to their native intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities. The incident was the latest in a series of Russian maneuvers intended to disrupt U.S. MQ-9 and engaged his engine’s afterburner, “increasing speed and air pressure, reduced the MQ-9 operator’s ability to safely operate the aircraft,” AFCENT said. A Russian fighter also flew in front of a U.S.

The actions forced drone operators to conduct “evasive maneuvers,” according to Grynkewich.

In the first incident, the Russian fighters dropped parachute flares in front of the MQ-9s, U.S. Grynkweich condemned Russia’s “dangerous behaviors.” “These events represent another example of unprofessional and unsafe actions by Russian air forces operating in Syria, which threaten the safety of both Coalition and Russian forces,” Air Forces Central commander Lt.

The army daily dozen exercises