Russia ‘Claims’ F-35 Stealth Fighters Came Dangerously Close To Their Warplanes

[rangerrebew]

 
SMART BOMBS: MILITARY, DEFENSE AND NATIONAL SECURITY
Russia ‘Claims’ F-35 Stealth Fighters Came Dangerously Close To Their Warplanes

American F-35s appear to be deterring Russia over the skies of Syria, U.S. officials say. Russian pilots have stopped firing flares in front of MQ-9 Reaper drones engaged in operations against ISIS.


ByJohn RossomandoPublished55 seconds ago
 

American F-35s appear to be deterring Russia over the skies of Syria, U.S. officials say. Russian pilots have stopped firing flares in front of MQ-9 Reaper drones engaged in operations against ISIS.

“We have seen a decrease in the level of aggressiveness of the Russian activities against our MQ-9s,” a senior U.S. defense official told Air & Space Forces Magazine.

At least two of the drones were damaged during prior encounters.

“We’re flying them in a number of different areas,” the official said. “We are flying them on missions up in Syria.”

 https://www.19fortyfive.com/2023/09/russia-claims-f-35-stealth-fighters-came-dangerously-close-to-their-warplanes/

[rangerrebew]

Tough shitskov!

[SZonian]

So, the US supports Ukies against Russia and Russia decides that ISIS is the lesser of 2 evils in Syria.
Way to go Joe!   
FJB
LGB

[PeteS in CA]

You have to go pretty deep into the article to find the headline story:

Deputy head of the Russian Center for the Reconciliation of the Warring Parties in Syria, Rear Admiral Vadim Kulit, claimed that Russian Su-35 fighters, a Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber, and American F-35s came dangerously close to a confrontation a few weeks ago.

“On August 14, from 12:35 to 12:50, in the Al-Tanf area at an altitude of about 9,100 meters, there was a dangerous rapprochement between two coalition F-35 fighters and two Su-35 aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces, which were making a planned flight along the southern border of Syria. Russian pilots, demonstrating high professionalism, took the necessary measures promptly to prevent a collision with coalition fighters,” Kulit said.

Of course, Russia is not exactly known for being honest in any sort of military situation, and any claims should be taken with a grain of salt.

The Russian media claimed the F-35s locked onto the Su-35s on radar, which “automatically (activated) the onboard defense systems of Russian aircraft,” the admiral said.

What is more likely is that the F-35s got into position on the Su-35s unnoticed, switched on their radars just to say "Hello", and the startled and embarrassed Russian pilots did a GTHO maneuver.