By Jonathan Beale
Defence correspondent, BBC News
Image source, Getty Photos
A Royal Air Force Typhoon jet has shot down a “dinky opposed drone” over Syria, the Ministry of Defence says.
It is miles the main time the British navy has downed one other enemy airplane for the explanation that Falklands Battle nearly 40 years within the past.
The MoD stated the drone – which used to be shot on 14 December – “posed a threat” to coalition forces combating the Islamic Order community in southern Syria.
It did now not recount which opposed community used to be operating the drone.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace stated the strike used to be “an spectacular demonstration of the RAF’s ability to lift out opposed targets within the air”.
Two FGR4 jets gain been on a routine patrol from their sinful in Cyprus after they gain been asked to analysis the dinky drone on Tuesday.
The pilots known and destroyed it utilizing an advanced immediate fluctuate air-to-air missile known as Asraam.
The incident took situation near the Al Tanf coalition navy sinful, close to the border with Iraq.
An Asraam missile, which costs spherical £200,000 and has a unfold of 12-15 miles, flies at supersonic shuffle – faster than the velocity of sound.
Defence sources told the BBC this engagement would likely gain been a slightly close detect – likely with the aircrew in line of survey of the notable slower flying drone.
It is miles the main operational air-to-air engagement conducted by an RAF Typhoon, and the main such engagement by the UK’s air force over Iraq or Syria.
