The Turkish Air Force has shot down an unidentified UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) over the Syria-Turkey border.
Turkish Air Force jets, most probably F-16s flying CAPs (Combat Air Patrols) along the Syria-Turkey border shot down an unidentified drone that had violated the Turkish airspace earlier today.
According to the information made available so far, the Turkish combat planes issued three warnings to the (unmanned) aircraft before shooting it down. Although this may seem a bit odd in this case, as the one shot down was a really small model (resembling a Russian-made Orlan 10) larger UAS (Unmanned Air Systems), controlled by a Ground Control Station usually have radios to talk with the ATC (Air Traffic Control) stations: for instance, the famous U.S. Predator and Global Hawk drones have U/VHF radios that pilots operating from the inside GCS use to talk with the air traffic control agencies along the route.
Therefore, Turkish jets may have radioed three warnings to the drone, in spite of its size, because the current RoE (Rules Of Engagement) require them to do so when intercepting an unidentified, manned or unmanned aircraft
The TuAF F-16s were on a heightened alert status since the violations of the Turkish airspace conducted by Russian Air Force Su-30SM and Su-24 aircraft in the Hatay region on Oct. 3 and 4, and subsequent radar lock by an “unidentified” Mig-29 on Oct. 5.
Following these border skirmishes, the Turkish F-16s began responding to “MiG” radar locks by performing lock-ons on the aircraft “harassing” them. However, it’s quite likely considered the type of target, that the drone shot down today was hit with a gun strafe instead of a missile.
In Sept. 2013, a TuAF F-16 shot down a Syrian Mi-17 that had violated the Turkish airspace.
On Mar. 23, 2014 a SyAAF Mig-23 that violated the Turkish airspace by about 1 km was shot down by the F-16C 91-008 in CAP near the border.
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It hasn’t been shot down – i’d suggest that its a result of losing comms with the controller. Id question how sophisticated it is as the build quality is not that good – ie wings shouldn’t delaminate like that – and show poor application of material in the way that the main wing has delaminated
Looks like crashed or shot with an air gun! May be F16 with a softball gun. LOL!
Just more nato FUD. What’s the purpose of the rope? Fear the wind would
take the wreckage away, so it wouldn’t be conveniently found?
The RC/AC model crowd should quickly identify the maker.
If every time a list of shot down aircraft is made, mention also the turkish RF4E violating syrian airspace on 22 June 2012.
It’s not hard to identify the model.
HTH
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orlan-10
The “rope” is part of the recovery parachute bridle. The Orlan recovers under a ‘chute, which is stored in the compartment shown open near the tail. When whatever happened to it happened, it must of popped the parachute. The chute itself /was in the tree above. In the later pictures the right wing is uncurled, meaning that somebody must of cut the line and probably removed the parachute.
It is a Russian UAV. The type has been seen in Syria before. Not an Orlan 10 due to the fact of the square tip wings. Likely the same company so an Orlan variant. They type has also been recovered in Ukraine. The Russians are probably quite right in what they say as to the no loss of their drones. The type was noted in Syria back in July 2015 so it is probably operated by the Syrians.
http://spioenkop.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/from-ukraine-to-syria-russian-orlan-10.html
http://www.sbu.gov.ua/sbu/control/en/publish/article;jsessionid=6732B2E38A2486358B06F49581E6B90D.app1?art_id=126346&cat_id=35317
Another droneX picture, this time in much better shape.
And a look-alike one, it has red stripes, but no red star…