A US-led coalition fighter jet shot down a drone over Syria on August 21, 2021, after the unmanned aircraft was identified as a threat.
The downing was first reported by Aviation Week’s Steve Trimble, who said a US Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle fired an AIM-9X Sidewinder missile upon the drone. The identity and owner of the unmanned aerial system was not disclosed.
The drone was shot down near a base known as Green Village, coalition officials were quoted as saying by other outlets.
“Coalition aircraft successfully engaged and defeated a UAS [Unmanned Aircraft Systems – ed. note] through air to air engagement in the vicinity of Mission Support Site Green Village,” Reuters quoted coalition spokesperson U.S. Army Colonel Wayne Marotto as saying.
Stars and Stripes cited the coalition as saying that safety was the highest priority and the unmanned aerial system had been “deemed a threat”.
Western armed forces are increasingly concerned about the threat posed by drones. While inexpensive and easily accessible, they can also cause serious damage. The recent conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh showcased the efficiency of drone warfare, creating concern among several major powers.